WARSAW — As part of Main Street Warsaw’s “All is Bright” month-long Christmas celebration, a downtown Warsaw window-decorating contest will take place.

Windows must be decorated before Dec. 5. Each display must include at least one illuminated or lighted feature in keeping with the All is Bright theme. Displays must be family-friendly and windows should remain decorated through Christmas.

Judging will take place Dec. 5.

Storeowners interested in this should let Main Street Warsaw know by Nov. 14 of their plans to decorate their storefront.

This will help Main Street Warsaw staff create the online judging page featuring all participating businesses. Contact Events Coordinator Nora Christiansen at nora@kchamber.com or 574-267-6311, ext. 4.

Dec. 5 will be the Downtown Tinkle Light Celebration, featuring the downtown Christmas tree lighting, Twinkle Light Parade, downtown open house (stores are encouraged to stay open late), carriage rides and more festive activities. This event will be from 5 to 8 p.m.

If you plan to have Santa visiting your store or any special events during the Christmas season, let Main Street Warsaw know so they can include you in the downtown Santa schedule and events calendar.

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WARSAW — Being a supporter and customer of small downtown Warsaw businesses paid off Monday for Sharon McIntosh.

Main Street Warsaw awarded McIntosh — a customer of Buffalo Street Emporium, 116 S. Buffalo St. - the All Is Bright Customer Reward program grand prize of $500 Kosciusko Cash and $1,500 in gift certificates from participating downtown businesses.

Main Street Warsaw staff, presenting sponsor 1st Source Bank Market President Doug Hanes and some of the participating businesses gathered at Buffalo Street Emporium Monday to participate in awarding the prize and to congratulate McIntosh.

“I love small family-owned small businesses and I’m all about supporting (them). They’re the ones that support the T-ball games, the Girl Scouts, all of that type of thing,” McIntosh said after the award presentation and photos. “So, if Warsaw could convince a small family grocery store to come to town, I would be all in because family is what gets us through the tough times, and I am just so grateful for this award of gift certificates and I plan on helping a lot of people out.”

During the holidays, Main Street Warsaw and nearly 30 downtown businesses offered the All Is Bright Customer Reward program, which started on Black Friday, Nov. 29, and ran through Dec. 23.

Customers who made purchases downtown were asked to text the word “Warsaw” to 574-313-5775 to receive directions on how to submit their receipt to be entered to win weekly gift certificates, according to a release provided by Main Street Warsaw.

During the contest, 10 weekly $25 gift certificates also were awarded. In all, more than 400 entries were submitted, with an average receipt of $72 and nearly $27,000 in total receipts.

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WARSAW — On Friday, more than 600 luminaries will line downtown streets as nearly 20 merchants stay open from 5-8 p.m. offering a holiday sip-n-shop with treats, hot chocolate, wine and cheese and specials on merchandise.

All of the fun is part of the All Is Bright promotion organized by Main Street Warsaw and presented by 1st Source Bank.

In addition, over thirty carolers from Vocal Vibes, Warsaw Evangelical Presbyterian Church and Warsaw Community High School will be strolling downtown streets providing Christmas cheer and adding to the seasonal shopping experience throughout the day starting at 12 noon and going until 8 p.m.

“If you haven’t finished your Christmas shopping or you are looking for a place to meet up with friends or family to celebrate the holidays and take in the season'S sights and sounds coming to downtown this Friday evening is a great place, said Terry Sweeney, Downtown Development Director for Main Street Warsaw.

“Merchants and restaurants have decorated their windows and people can vote on their favorite one via a QR at each window and the All Is Bright customer reward program is still going on. Make a purchase downtown and text “Warsaw” to be entered to win weekly gift certificates and the $1,500 grand prize of gift certificates and Kosciusko Cash. We hope to see you downtown this Friday,” Sweeney added.

Complete details on the Downtown Holiday Open House are available at
www.mainstreetwarsaw.org.

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WARSAW — With Thanksgiving in the rearview mirror, today marks Black Friday and Warsaw organizers hope shoppers will check out some new events downtown.

Main Street Warsaw has organized numerous activities for the next few weekends including today. Those include Christmas carolers in the downtown. Santa will be at The gathering place and gift wrapping will also be available at The gathering place with a $5 donation.

Weekend Christmas tree sales will take place in the city hall parking lot with 10 percent of sales going to Fellowship Missions

A customer rewards program begins Friday with weekly gift certificates and a grand prize of $1,500 in gift certificates and Kosciusko Cash.

Get more details about all is bright by checking out the website mainstreetwarsaw.org.

A one-mile Turkey Trot returns this year that begins at 10 a.m.

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WARSAW — Downtown Warsaw is organizing a bountiful lineup of pre-Christmas activities this year.

Main Street Warsaw announced All is Bright, a month-long Downtown Christmas Celebration, sponsored by 1st Source Bank, will begin on Friday.

All Is Bright will focus on shopping local for Christmas and will feature several events and activities, including carolers, Christmas tree sales in the City Hall parking lot, a Downtown Christmas Market, gift wrapping services and Santa Claus at the Gathering Place.

On certain nights, the downtown will be lit up with luminary walks, and offer extended shopping hours.

Start the holiday season off by shopping, dining and celebrating downtown and continue throughout the season. By doing so, you will have the opportunity to win gift certificates and Kosciusko Cash while reveling in Downtown Warsaw’s holiday atmosphere and helping local charities.

Additional All is Bright supporters include Alderfer Bergen & Co, Coldwell Banker Real Estate Group, Forte Residential & Home Health Care and Kensington Digital Media, according to a news release from Main Street Warsaw.

During All is Bright, Main Street Warsaw and over 30 downtown merchants will be offering the All Is Bright Customer Reward Program starting on Friday and running through Dec. 23.

When customers visit a downtown business, they can text the word “Warsaw” to 574-313-5775 to receive directions on how to be entered to win weekly gift certificates and a grand prize of $500 Kosciusko Cash and $1,500 in gift certificates from participating businesses.

“Main Street Warsaw is thrilled to bring the All is Bright Downtown Christmas celebration to Downtown Warsaw this year! This event is a fantastic opportunity to promote shopping local and support our amazing small businesses throughout the entire month of December.

We invite everyone to come out, enjoy the festive atmosphere, and discover unique gifts while experiencing the charm of our downtown” said Main Street Warsaw Downtown Development Director Terry Sweeney.

1st Source Bank Warsaw City President Doug Hanes said, “1st Source Bank is excited to be the presenting sponsor of the All Is Bright Downtown Christmas Celebration. We believe it is a great way to support our downtown businesses and local charities during this holiday season. It is also great to have our downtown be the center of holiday celebrations, fun and good cheer. We hope you visit downtown to enjoy the atmosphere and shop local!”

All combined plans for this year are more expansive than what's been seen in the past and were organized chiefly by Sweeny who joined Main Street Warsaw and the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce earlier this year.

"This is what I've done in other cities is organize this kind of effort — and this is, moving forward, how we should be doing things to position downtown as a premier gathering place in the community's living room," Sweeny said.

Additional programming during the All Is Bright Downtown Christmas Celebration sponsored by 1st Source Bank includes:

• Downtown carolers every Friday and Saturday through Dec. 14.
• Weekend Christmas tree sales at the City Hall parking lot by Anderson and Greenhouse Florist who will be donating 10% of sales to Fellowship Missions.
• Santa will be downtown at Fellowship Missions’ “The Gathering Place,” Downtown Candy Store and Reinholt’s Furniture Store.
• Gift wrapping will be provided by local not-for-profits for a $5 donation at The Gathering Place on Black Friday and every Saturday through Dec. 14.
• Turkey Trot 1-mile fun run at the Courthouse Friday.
• Black Friday and Shop Small Saturday specials.
• Window decorating contest on Dec. 5.
• Twinkle Light Parade on Dec. 6.
• Downtown Open House and Sip N Shop Dec. 13 that will feature luminaire-lit candle bags lining the streets, carolers and shops staying open from 5-8 p.m. and offering wine, cheese and holiday treats to shoppers.
• Holiday Coffee Klatches at downtown four coffee destinations featuring live Christmas music on Dec. 10 and 17.
• Wine Downtown Wednesdays with specials on wine at downtown restaurants and bars.
• Thursdays Holiday Happy Hours with drink specials and holiday cocktails from 4-6 p.m. at downtown restaurants and bars.

For a complete listing of details, dates and times for the All Is Bright Downtown Christmas Celebration, visit mainstreetwarsaw.org.

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