Winter Holiday Events in Alger County

Preparations are underway for holiday events throughout Alger County as the winter season approaches. From festive parades featuring Santa to initiatives focused on inspiring people to shop locally, here’s a list of celebrations taking place this year:

Chatham

Chatham’s annual Small-Town Christmas Parade featuring a horse drawn wagon with Santa and the Grinch will take place at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3, along the village’s main drag. There’ll also be a craft show at Rock River Township Fire Hall – located at N5125 State Highway M-94, Chatham – from 1-5 p.m. with plenty of photo opportunities and free chocolate.

Grand Marais

Grand Marais will hold its yearly holiday celebrations, which Burt Township is calling “Shop, Play, and Stay in Grand Marais,” the weekend following Thanksgiving.

The area’s light parade is slated to take place on Friday, Nov. 25, at 4:30 p.m., followed by a Christmas tree lighting at 5 p.m., and Starry Starry Night - where 10 local businesses will have Black Friday sales, giveaways, samples and so on - from 5-9 p.m.

Grand Marais will also celebrate Small Business Saturday – an annual nationwide event that was created to encourage people to spend their dollars at local, small businesses - on Nov. 26. Additionally, the town’s Christmas Carnival will take place that day from 3-7 p.m. at the Burt Township Community Center – located at E21738 Brazel St., Grand Marais. There’ll be food, concessions, a photo booth, games, craft tables for kids, and more. The night will wrap up with a screening of Elf, a popular holiday-themed movie, at 7 p.m.

Munising

For the first time since 2019, Rekindle the Spirit will be held in person along Superior Street and Elm Avenue in downtown Munising from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 1. Activities include pictures with Santa and other holiday characters, old-fashioned wagon rides, a parade, music, tree lighting at Peoples State Bank, the Munising Downtown Development Authority’s business decorating contest and more.

Unlike the last two years, the Rekindle Grand Giveaway will also be a traditional celebration this year with over $5,000 in prizes to be given away.

From Nov. 24 to Dec. 15, people that shop local will be eligible to win a variety of prizes sponsored by local businesses. During that timeframe, participants can bring their receipts of anything purchased from any Alger County business to the Fuzzy Boyak Welcome Center at 129 E. Munising Ave. For every $50 they spend, they’ll receive one entry for the prize drawings. Contestants do not have to spend $50 at one time as any combination of $50 worth of receipts earns one entry form. There’ll be daily drawings this year so if people enter frequently, they’ll have a better chance at winning a prize.

For more information visit www.algercountychamber.com/rekindle or call the office at (906) 387-2138.