Merry MainStreet is over for 2010, but we will leave the information about the event on this website to give you an idea of what the event entails. Plan to join us in 2011 on December 10 in downtown Steamboat. Also consider entering a gingerbread house in the Gingerbread House Tour, being part of the the Santa Parade, or joining the Joyeous Jaunt. Its a great way to kick off the holidays.
Winners in the different catagories are listed below:
Thank you to all the sponsors, volunteers, participants and attendees for another successful Merry MainStreet.
1st Annual Fruit Cake Toss Distance Winner – Rick Mewborn – 62’3”
Store Window Winners:
Best Classic Christmas – Bushwackers – I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Best Colorado Christmas – FM Light and Sons – Colorado Christmas
Best International Christmas – Moose Mountain – Christmas Around the World
Gingerbread House Winner: Sarah Seguin – Victorian House (The “Kansas” House) – displayed at Off the Beaten Path – See additional houses at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory and Lyon Drug
Shop Downtown First – Total of $1000 in certificates distributed – $500 at the Light Up the Night event in November and $500 at the Merry MainStreet event
Winners from the Merry MainStreet event: Each winner receives $100 in Downtown Dollars to be spent with Downtown Merchants
Carrie Epstein – registered at All That Jazz
Meagan Coates – 7th Street Boutique
Lynn Wunder – Allen’s Clothing
Lori Keefe – Off the Beaten Path
Judy Schwall – Artisans’ Market
*********************3rd Annual
Merry MainStreet Holiday Celebration Saturday, December 11, 2010 5-8 pmLincoln AvenueLincoln Avenue will be closed to traffic from 6th to 9th Streets
Once again, MainStreet Steamboat and the businesses along Lincoln Avenue will be hosting Merry MainStreet.As in years past, the event will include open houses in the stores, a gingerbread house contest, themed and decorated holiday store windows, a light parade, visits and photo opportunities with Santa in the center of Downtown, carolers, performances by local groups and non-profit groups offering services and snacks.The “Joyous Jaunt” featuring sample sizes of holiday beverages will be offered in several of the restaurants.
Open Houses in the stores: We all know that Steamboat Springs doesn’t start serious shopping for Christmas until after the middle of December. Now is the time to entice event attendees into your store, familiarize them with what you have to offer, offer them some hot cider or cookies to keep them looking around.Consider offering a Merry MainStreet discount for buying on this night.Get creative. Wear costumes (Frosty? Victorian? Elves?).Have a scavenger hunt in your store.The more memorable you are and the more enthusiastic you are for the event, the more return you will see.We all know how hard it is to get locals into stores.This is the time to WOW them.
Gingerbread House Contest – Gingerbread houses, the smell of hot apple cider, and the spices that go with them all bring back memories of Christmases past.Professionals and amateurs are invited to enter gingerbread houses in the annual contest by going to www.mainstreetsteamboat.com, filling out and returning the entry blank. Rules are posed online.There is no fee to enter.If you are interested in displaying a gingerbread house in your business, as a means of enticing customers to walk through your store (place the house somewhere inside the store), contact Tracy at 970-846-1800.Prizes will be awarded and winners will be announced in the paper.Professional houses will be judged by the public.Amateur houses (adult and child categories) will be judged separately by a panel of judges.
Entry form is attached below.
Holiday Themed Store Window Contest – As in years past, we are asking stores to choose a holiday/winter/Christmas/seasonal song (Silent Night? Frosty, the snowman? Rock Around the Christmas Tree?) as the theme for store windows.Those stores that choose to register their themed windows with MainStreet (970-846-1800) will be judged by a panel of judges and announced in the Steamboat Today.YOU MUST REGISTER YOUR WINDOW TO BE JUDGED.
Light Parade – Last year was the first year for the Holiday Light Parade.Although the parade was very small, it will continue to grow.Individuals and groups, vehicles or walkers (sorry, no horses), all bedecked with twinkle lights are encouraged to enter.There is no fee to enter, but you must register to participate.Get creative!The Holiday Parade of Light in Denver is so popular that they do it for two nights in a row. The parade will be short, but a parade always adds an element of festivity! Call 970-846-1800 to register your entry.
Entry form attached below.
Santa – During the holiday season between Thanksgiving and Christmas Santa will be available to visit with children at the following times:
Friday, November 26 – 6-7 pm at the Light Up the Night event on the courthouse lawn at the Santa House.
Saturday, December 4 -11am – 2 pm -at the Santa House on the Courthouse Lawn
Saturday, December 11 – 5:30 pm (following the parade) to 8 pm – at Howelsen Place , corner of 7th and Lincoln
Saturday, December 18 – 11am – 2 pm – at the Santa House on the Courthouse lawn
Friday, December 24 – 11 am – 2 pm – at the Santa House on the Courthouse lawn
Tell parents to bring their cameras for pictures.
Joyous Jaunt -Some restaurants will be, once again, participating the this respectable version of a holiday “pub crawl”.These restaurants will be offering specialty holiday drinks of the season for a special price.Participants will be given a punch card for the participating restaurants and must have visit at least 3 of the establishments before 9 pm, before ending up at the Old Town Pub, to be eligible to win prizes.
General Ambiance -In addition to the above, there will be several different additional elements adding to the ambiance on the street.Organizations have been invited to participate by having booths, performances by street performers and others will be offered, and Christmas/seasonal music will be broadcast up and down the street.
If you have questions, call Tracy Barnett, MainStreet Steamboat Spring, 970-846-1800
