Grand Marais gears up for the 2nd Annual Holiday Harbor Village this weekend
Dec 05, 2024 08:26AM ● By Content Editor
Image: Holiday Harbor Village Planning Committee
By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - December 2, 2024
After a successful first event, the Holiday Harbor Village is back for its second year this weekend. Born from a long-standing dilemma in the local small business community, the Village invites visitors and locals alike to come shop in a cozy, "hygge" environment, and enjoy some fun, "up north" holiday traditions at the same time. The Holiday Harbor Village planning committee told Boreal Community Media that Grand Marais has "the most incredible, unique and exquisite gift and art shops in such a concentrated area; our town provides the perfect small town holiday shopping experience." Still, this time of year is often one of the slowest in terms of traffic.
The term "it takes a village" applies to the event in two different ways. To solve their dilemma, small business owners brainstormed ways to encourage visitors to trek up to Cook County during the holiday season. "We realized that maybe the biggest block to getting folks up here was not inviting them! So we decided to throw a festive weekend party around town and call it the Holiday Harbor Village." The two-day event will take place on Friday, December 6, and Saturday, December 7.
Return attendees will get to enjoy many of their favorite activities from the first year. In addition, Gina Joyce, Holiday Harbor Village project manager, shared some of the new components for 2024, including a Winter Market at The Hub with items from 16 local artists and two different bands playing live music during the Snowshoe Ball at Up Yonder (with a family-friendly set from Pete Kavanaugh and his band, followed by the Black River Revue band). Additionally, shoppers will have the opportunity to take advantage of later shopping hours at 13 local businesses that plan to stay open until 7 p.m. "This year, we expanded on a fun idea that Drury Lane [Books] had last year, where they stayed open late for extra shopping and giveaways during the event."
Along with shopping, several activities are planned throughout the weekend, including Letters to Santa, a frozen-fish toss, a rock skipping contest, a goat yoga meet and greet, photos with the yeti, sunset smores, a sled dog meet and greet, and more. The planning committee has also made an effort to involve local lodging and food/beverage businesses in offering discounts and fun activities throughout the two days.
The Holiday Harbor Village event coincides with other local activities happening this weekend, including the soft opening of the new Northern Goods store (in the former Stone Harbor building), the 4th Annual Pots for Presents Sale, the Annual Northwoods Fiber Guild Open House and Sale, and the Grand Portage Christmas Craft Fair. The annual Duluth Winter Village will also take place this weekend.
Acknowledging that other, nearby locations (including the Twin Cities and Duluth) offer a variety of holiday markets, the planning committee shared that they felt "none provide that small town, intimate feel that we could provide." We want people to "feel the holiday spirit without being a shoulder-to-shoulder mass of shoppers of the classic holiday market. It’s the holiday market for those who enjoy the cozy, calm hygge vibes of the winter season," they added.
To learn more about the Holiday Harbor Village, visit the Visit Cook County website here, or the Facebook event page here. This event is made possible thanks to the support and funding provided by the Cook County Chamber of Commerce and Visit Cook County.
By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - December 2, 2024
After a successful first event, the Holiday Harbor Village is back for its second year this weekend. Born from a long-standing dilemma in the local small business community, the Village invites visitors and locals alike to come shop in a cozy, "hygge" environment, and enjoy some fun, "up north" holiday traditions at the same time. The Holiday Harbor Village planning committee told Boreal Community Media that Grand Marais has "the most incredible, unique and exquisite gift and art shops in such a concentrated area; our town provides the perfect small town holiday shopping experience." Still, this time of year is often one of the slowest in terms of traffic.
The term "it takes a village" applies to the event in two different ways. To solve their dilemma, small business owners brainstormed ways to encourage visitors to trek up to Cook County during the holiday season. "We realized that maybe the biggest block to getting folks up here was not inviting them! So we decided to throw a festive weekend party around town and call it the Holiday Harbor Village." The two-day event will take place on Friday, December 6, and Saturday, December 7.
Return attendees will get to enjoy many of their favorite activities from the first year. In addition, Gina Joyce, Holiday Harbor Village project manager, shared some of the new components for 2024, including a Winter Market at The Hub with items from 16 local artists and two different bands playing live music during the Snowshoe Ball at Up Yonder (with a family-friendly set from Pete Kavanaugh and his band, followed by the Black River Revue band). Additionally, shoppers will have the opportunity to take advantage of later shopping hours at 13 local businesses that plan to stay open until 7 p.m. "This year, we expanded on a fun idea that Drury Lane [Books] had last year, where they stayed open late for extra shopping and giveaways during the event."
Along with shopping, several activities are planned throughout the weekend, including Letters to Santa, a frozen-fish toss, a rock skipping contest, a goat yoga meet and greet, photos with the yeti, sunset smores, a sled dog meet and greet, and more. The planning committee has also made an effort to involve local lodging and food/beverage businesses in offering discounts and fun activities throughout the two days.
The Holiday Harbor Village event coincides with other local activities happening this weekend, including the soft opening of the new Northern Goods store (in the former Stone Harbor building), the 4th Annual Pots for Presents Sale, the Annual Northwoods Fiber Guild Open House and Sale, and the Grand Portage Christmas Craft Fair. The annual Duluth Winter Village will also take place this weekend.
Acknowledging that other, nearby locations (including the Twin Cities and Duluth) offer a variety of holiday markets, the planning committee shared that they felt "none provide that small town, intimate feel that we could provide." We want people to "feel the holiday spirit without being a shoulder-to-shoulder mass of shoppers of the classic holiday market. It’s the holiday market for those who enjoy the cozy, calm hygge vibes of the winter season," they added.
To learn more about the Holiday Harbor Village, visit the Visit Cook County website here, or the Facebook event page here. This event is made possible thanks to the support and funding provided by the Cook County Chamber of Commerce and Visit Cook County.
Image: Holiday Harbor Village Planning Committee
Image: Holiday Harbor Village Planning Committee
