Michigan City ushered in the holiday season Saturday with an expanded version of its annual Festival of Lights celebration, bringing festive cheer, community spirit, and a fresh perspective to the city’s cherished traditions.
At Uptown Social, visitors explored Michigan City’s first-ever Kindlmarket, featuring local artisans and craftspeople selling unique holiday items. The venue was also the site of the popular Chili Challenge, where attendees sampled and voted for their favorite chili in support of Meals on Wheels. Santa Claus himself made an appearance, greeting children and collecting toys for the Toys for Tots drive.
“Events like this are key to fostering a sense of community, especially during the holiday season,” Michigan City Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch said. “The organizations involved in the parade are often the same ones who give back all year, like Meals on Wheels, or focus specifically on the holidays, like the Housewives of LaPorte County.”
This year’s Snowflake Parade featured a significant, as it traveled southbound along Franklin Street, which recently became a two-way thoroughfare for the first time in decades. The route adjustment, designed to spotlight Uptown Social and the city’s new Kindlmarket, marked a shift from the traditional northbound march to the library.
“We wanted to do something different,” Deuitch said. “With the absence of the tree at the library and Franklin Street’s transition to a two-way street, we thought it would be interesting to change the parade route. By heading south instead of north, we hoped to involve more people in visiting the restaurants and shops while ending the parade at the Kindlmarket. This new route seemed like the perfect way to bring Santa to Uptown.”
Families lined the sidewalks to watch floats decorated with twinkling lights, performers, and entertainment groups spread holiday joy. One highlight of the parade was the group of Grinches on motorbikes who delighted the crowd – especially the children – with tricks like wheelies.
“Every time I drive south on Franklin, I notice something new,” Deuitch said. “The street hasn’t been two-way since the 1960s, long before I was born, so seeing it from this perspective is exciting. I hope people are enjoying it as much as I am, and I’m optimistic that businesses will continue to grow because of this change. I think it will lead to people lining up at their doors.”
Throughout the weekend, charitable initiatives added to the holiday festivities, including a coat giveaway at the H.O.P.E. Center and a toy giveaway hosted by the Michigan City Kidpreneurs.
“People want to feel a sense of community, but they also want to know they’ve made a positive impact,” Deuitch said. “That’s such a beautiful thing, and the more I can support those efforts, the better.”
As the night unfolded, Terry Greetham, Michigan City director of special events, addressed the crowd at Uptown Social.
“Merry Christmas,” Greetham said. “Thank you guys all for coming. Thank you to everybody who put a lot of time and effort into this parade and this event. We want to thank our good friends at Uptown Social for hosting.”
Highlights of the evening included the intricate soldier-themed float, which featured detailed depictions of soldiers and planes, the Grinches on motorbikes performing tricks, and fire trucks, which drew cheers from the crowd.
“The Grinches are always a highlight,” Deuitch said. “They're always a hit with the crowd.”
The Festival of Lights celebration brought the Michigan City community together to mark the holiday season with festive activities and opportunities to give back. With new additions like the Kindlmarket and a new Snowflake Parade route, the event showcased a mix of tradition and fresh ideas. This year’s celebration offered something for everyone and reflected the city’s focus on fostering connection and community involvement during the holidays.
As always, the city’s vast display of holiday lights at Washington Park were lit for the first time of the season during the Festival of Lights. The exhibit will continue to be lighted daily at dark through Jan. 5.To learn more about the City of Michigan City, visit emichigancity.com.