Need a little Christmas in Downtown St. Marys

In this year filled with challenges, we all need a little Christmas now. To generate some much needed cheer, BIA merchants have embraced the theme “Need a little Christmas? Come to St. Marys.” inviting local residents and visitors to safely celebrate the spirit of this holiday season throughout five weeks of widened festivities.
BIA merchants have all rallied together to make downtown St. Marys sparkle like a scene right out of a Hallmark Christmas movie. To complement St. Marys’ seasonal street lights and the BIA’s recent addition of evergreen trees, the Flower Shop and More and Lyric Flowers have warmly dressed each downtown business with fresh cut garlands and bright red bows to enable pedestrians and mobile travellers to safely delight in our beautiful downtown.
In communication with Town and Huron-Perth Public Health officials, the BIA has carefully extended their annual Merchants Open House to three days beginning Friday November 20th from 9 am until 8 p.m., continuing Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and concluding with special Sunday noon to 5 p.m store hours. This unique weekend offers once-a-year savings like participating merchant-paid taxes on purchases, sightings of Mr. and Mrs. Claus on both Saturday and Sunday, plus added outdoor benefits. Stratford’s fast-rising star Hannah Thomas will be joyously singing songs from her newly released holiday album – Christmas Don’t Be Late – throughout downtown from the back of area resident Bruce White’s classic red pick-up truck this weekend. Hannah’s new CD will be available for purchase downtown at Lauren Whitney Lifestyles, the Flower Shop and More, and Zenfire Pottery. On Sunday, St. Marys Lincolns’ team volunteers will also be safely serving free hot chocolate at Town Hall and another outdoor spot starting at noon until supplies run out. St. Marys Farmers Market also simultaneously occurs directly outside Town Hall this Sunday.
Nine downtown BIA food establishments and 19 diverse businesses have also joined together to stage St. Marys’ first Christmas Cookie Crawl. Between December 4th and 5th, hungry scavengers will travel with their purchased cookie container to listed participant locations to collect two dozen delicious locally-made cookies. Proceeds from this exercise go to support our local foodbank (please note this activity is sold out).
The holiday cheer continues December 12th with a Christmas family photo opportunity alongside a red retro pick-up truck at Town Hall.
The personal photo with vintage vehicle backdrop are free (courtesy of local photographer Jayne Fuller and Bruce & Nancy White, respectively), however, canned food or monetary donations are welcomed for St. Marys local food bank. Also on that day, a symbolic mural – created by Holy Name of Mary Catholic School and Little Falls Public School students – will be revealed in the window of Stonetown Travel.
The BIA hopes these new holiday initiatives create needed joy and business this season. To ensure a safe celebration, St. Marys’ merchants remind all downtown guests to responsibly wear facial masks, use hand sanitizers, and adhere to Government-stated social distancing measures at all times throughout our community.