Downtown Three Rivers’ annual Christmas Around Town (CAT) event is just a few weeks away, and organizers have assembled a collection of pandemic-friendly activities that families can participate in despite this year’s unusual circumstances. A few other events on Main Street were cancelled earlier this year, but with proper time to plan, the Three Rivers Downtown Development Authority and Main Street Program (TRDDA) and the downtown merchants are ready to host festivities again on the weekend immediately following Thanksgiving.

Christmas Around Town is an annual, downtown Three Rivers tradition. This year’s schedule is somewhat abbreviated from its usual three-day schedule, TRDDA Executive Director Tricia Meyer said, instead only taking place on two days this year. Some features of the event, and some details, are yet to be finalized due to the unique logistical challenges this year presents. However, there are still a range of activities to choose from over the two-day period, including some of the event’s most well-loved, mainstay features.

On Friday evening, November 27 at 6 p.m., a tree lighting ceremony will take place as usual in the downtown Mural Mall to kick off the event. As is the tradition for the ceremony, there will be a traditional holiday reading, live caroling, and free hot cocoa made from chocolate provided by World Fare. The Mural Mall connects the west side of North Main Street to Railroad Drive, and its upper end is opposite Portage Avenue.

The event’s most popular tradition, the arrival of Santa Claus on Main Street by fire truck, will take place as usual as well. Santa will arrive in at 52-54 North Main Street at noon on Saturday, November 28. Once he arrives, Santa will be inside one of the adjacent storefronts.

Although social distancing concerns will prevent Santa from sitting with children directly or making other forms of direct contact, he will be available until 5 p.m. for contact-free photo opportunities, and there will be a letter station available for children to write and submit letters and wish lists for the “jolly old elf.”

New this year amid the pandemic is a Main Street “Storybook Stroll.” Displayed in the storefront windows up and down the historic downtown will be a series of displays that combine to tell a holiday storybook tale. The displays will include mounted storyboards surrounded by related, themed décor. The feature is sponsored and organized by the Three Rivers Public Library, and a make-your-own ornament kit will be available along with Storybook Stroll guide maps at the TRDDA office at 57 North Main Street.

The ever-popular horse-drawn wagon rides will return again this year, with measures in place to help make social distancing possible. There will be a limit of six riders per wagonload. Families who arrive together will not have to distance from one another, but should still plan to respect the driver’s space. The wagon will board near the TRDDA office and will make a circle tour of part of the historic downtown area. Participants should dress appropriately for the weather, as the wagon is not enclosed or heated.

Meyer said the Saturday of the event is also the day of Small Business Saturday, a nationwide event and promotion designed to encourage support of small, locally owned businesses during the holiday shopping season. Meyer said most downtown stores will open at 10 a.m., and many will feature a variety of holiday-season specials.

Several businesses will also be hosting holiday-themed activities for the Christmas Around Town event. Martell Realty, located at 8 North Main Street, will have a balloon artist on hand to create festive, holiday balloon art. There will also be several other vendors on hand there, and Martell will feature free hot cocoa and popcorn.

A holiday market with a variety of arts and crafts for sale by different local artisans will be hosted at 36 North Main Street. Two businesses, including BruCrew Coffee at 42-44 North Main Street and Ridgeway Floral at 901 West Michigan Avenue, will be hosting holiday open houses, and BruCrew will be giving away free hot coffee samples and will have their own roasted coffee available for sale.

Except for merchant and restaurant items and services, all Christmas Around Town activities are free. This year’s event is sponsored entirely by various forms of local fundraising, and Meyer said that effort is ongoing. An outdoor concert on Railroad Drive several weeks ago called “Backstage Bash” provided the money necessary to stage the most essential parts of the event, but Meyer said the TRDDA’s Promotions Committee is working with other donors and the public to ensure that Christmas Around Town is as robust as possible, as well as the Midnight on Main event coming up on New Year’s Eve, which is currently being organized.

Because of the circumstances of the pandemic year, Meyer said Christmas Around Town activities could be subject to change if pandemic conditions and requirements were to evolve. However, Meyer said TRDDA and the merchants are planning to forge ahead.

As is always the case, most activities will take place whether the weather is unseasonably warm or appropriate to the holidays. For the latest developments, interested members of the public can keep an eye on the latest developments by visiting the Downtown Three Rivers website or Facebook page.

Dave Vago is a writer and columnist for Watershed Voice. A Philadelphia native with roots in Three Rivers, Vago is a planning consultant to history and community development organizations and is the former Executive Director of the Three Rivers DDA/Main Street program.