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.

An outdoor “Main Street Commons Social District” may be coming to downtown Three Rivers soon. At a regular meeting of the Three Rivers Downtown Development Authority and Main Street Program (TRDDA) Friday, board members voted to approve recommending the district to the Three Rivers City Commission for approval. The district is a new opportunity under the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) to permit patrons at certain drinking establishments to consume alcoholic beverages outside.

A new outdoor music event in downtown Three Rivers drew a full audience this past weekend. Backstage Bash 2020 was organized by the Riviera Theatre and the Three Rivers Downtown Development Authority and Main Street Program (TRDDA). It took place Saturday afternoon and evening on a temporarily closed section of Railroad Drive behind the theatre. Featuring four music acts, it served as a fundraiser for this year’s upcoming Christmas Around Town.

Downtown Three Rivers experienced an above-average crowd on its sidewalks over the weekend. Following a declaration establishing Saturday, September 26 as Downtown Day by Governor Gretchen Whitmer a few weeks ago, the Three Rivers Downtown Development Authority and Main Street Program (TRDDA) joined downtown merchants, the Michigan Downtown Association, and other communities across the state in hosting festivities.