Holiday spirit endures through Christmas Around Town despite winter storms

Winter weather dampened attendance at this year’s Christmas Around Town celebration in downtown Three Rivers, but those who made it out brought plenty of holiday spirit to the three-day event. The conditions also forced organizers to reschedule the Holiday Light Parade to December 19 and cancel Sunday’s horse-drawn wagon rides, which may be offered at a later date.

Christmas Around Town, held November 28–30 and organized by the Three Rivers Downtown Development Authority, featured activities for families across downtown, including holiday crafts at the Three Rivers Public Library, face painting, take-home cookie decorating kits from GG’s, and visits with Santa at the Riviera Theatre. The weekend also included the annual tree lighting ceremony and community concert, with performances by the Three Rivers High School band and the Aristocrats choir.

“CAT was fun,” said Three Rivers Downtown Development Authority Vice Chair John Wolgamood. “The people that showed up seemed in the holiday spirit and enjoyed their time downtown. The people that showed up were enthusiastic and had smiles on their faces.” He added that while the weather kept some visitors home, those who attended were upbeat throughout the weekend.

Wolgamood said the range of activities ran smoothly, praising volunteers, performers, and participating businesses. “I believe all the events went well… the tree lighting and community concert were very entertaining and we heard a lot of great music,” he said. “The face painter was great, GG’s cookies were popular, the horses were stoic, and the kids seemed to enjoy their time with Santa.”

Downtown businesses stayed steady through much of Saturday, and Wolgamood said the community’s support was clear. “Our community really likes Christmas activities downtown and supports these events by showing up and by supporting them financially,” he said.

Wolgamood noted that planning the weekend takes nearly three months of weekly meetings among DDA volunteers, who discuss new ideas, consider community feedback, and work within the donations that make the event possible. He thanked Director Angela Metty, Assistant Director Abby David, and volunteers who helped bring the festivities together. “All our events are supported by donations from our local community,” he said.

Looking ahead, Wolgamood said the DDA is “heading in the right direction” and plans to expand activities in 2026, especially with the city’s new amphitheater coming online. In the meantime, he encouraged families to return downtown for the DDA’s upcoming Festive Fridays.

Maxwell Knauer is a staff writer for Watershed Voice.