Downtown Grants Pass is preparing for a lively and festive weekend from December 5 through December 7 as the community comes together for a holiday celebration that stretches across three days and features music, shopping, family activities and the much-anticipated Cocoa Crawl. The weekend begins Friday afternoon when the Holiday Plaza opens at Fifth and G streets for the annual tree-lighting ceremony. Festivities start at 3 p.m. and continue through the evening with the vendor street fair running from early afternoon until 9 p.m. Live music is scheduled at the Grants Pass Museum of Art and families can close the evening by visiting Santa, who will be greeting children in the Holiday Plaza. Additional music will continue across downtown with a performance by the Pandora Band at the Wonder Bur.
Saturday brings an even fuller lineup beginning at 11 a.m. with the Stocking Stuffer Stops. Participants may pick up a complimentary stocking at Chilly Goose before making their way through participating shops across downtown. That same morning the Cocoa Crawl begins and will run until 2 p.m., offering visitors a warm and flavorful tour of local businesses each serving their own version of hot cocoa. Among the many stops is Diamond Cannabis on the corner of H and Sixth streets, where In Your Mouth Bakery will be popped up for the event. Guests are encouraged to visit their booth to enjoy their popular candied bacon alongside other seasonal treats.
The Saturday schedule also includes visits with Santa at the Cigar Cave as well as an invitation to explore the eighteen magical murals placed throughout town by Evergreen Bank. Many local merchants are extending special holiday promotions including discounts, seasonal menu items and incentives for shoppers who donate toys or canned goods.
Sunday concludes the weekend with Shop Small Sunday, an all-day push to support independently owned downtown businesses. Most shops will be open between late morning and afternoon, and Chilly Goose will host bluegrass music from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors are again invited to continue touring the mural installations across downtown throughout the day.
Main Street Grants Pass is also running a Shop Dine Win promotion through December 20, offering scratch cards with instant prizes and a grand shopping spree drawing. The holiday weekend aims to bring residents and visitors together through food, music and community spirit, celebrating the start of the season with events for all ages.