For over a decade, the Village of Berrien Springs has gone all-in on holiday celebrations with events like the popular annual “Kindle Your Christmas Spirit” festival. COVID-19 may have temporarily sidelined some of the in-person activities, but this year’s lineup of offerings proves that even a global pandemic can’t dampen this town’s Christmas joy!
From the newly-renamed ReKindle Your Christmas Spirit festival, now for the first time including a residential decorating contest, to online offerings from the Berrien County Historical Association, to the familiar sights of downtown businesses aglow with holiday decorations, the tree in Memorial Park coming to life with lights, and the magic of ice sculptures in the downtown area, there will be plenty to do and see in Berrien Springs this Christmas.
Here are five ways to enjoy the season:
1. Watch as blocks of ice are transformed into amazing sculptures.
Randy Veldman and his team will be creating frozen works of art in the downtown area during the day on December 10.
2. Take in a virtual festival.
Between 10 am and 5 pm on Thursday, December 10, the team at the Berrien County Historical Association will be bringing you activities, songs, videos, story book reading, and much more – all virtually. You can visit their Facebook and Instagram pages to participate, or if you aren’t on social media, join the BCHA’s mailing list to have all the fun delivered via email.
3. Check out the lighting displays in downtown shop windows.
The downtown open house is cancelled this year due to Covid-19. But the annual Christmas Window Decorating Contest will be held for the downtown businesses, with ribbons and monetary awards totaling $400 to be awarded to first, second, and third place winners in the business district including the 1839 Courthouse and Berrien Springs Community Library. The theme this year is “The Nativity.”
4. See the Christmas tree in Memorial Park come to life.
Just like always, the tree will be lit for the season on the the evening of December 10 and remain lit throughout the season for you to enjoy. (Nightly cocoa walk, anyone?)
5: Watch neighborhoods light up during the first-annual Residential Christmas Decorating Contest.
For the first time this year, the Village of Berrien Springs is holding a residential decorating contest, with the theme “Christmas Wonderland.” Displays will be judged on the evenings of December 10 and 11, based on curb appeal as viewed from the street. Photos of the winning entries will be published in The Journal Era, and the top three winners will receive Christmas baskets, gift certificates, and ribbons. “We always have great holiday decorations, but this is a nice way to encourage people who otherwise might not decorate to get in the spirit,” says Village President Jesse Hibler. Why not invite your out-of-town friends to add Berrien Springs to their Christmas light viewing list?