An economic engine, community gathering place, and picturesque showpiece, Downtown Petoskey brings year-round cheer to all, especially during the holiday season when our triple-threat downtown district hosts festive events and activities with a decorative backdrop that’s second to none.
“It may sound trite, but it really takes a village to make Downtown shine,” said Amy Tweeten, who is in the midst of her first holiday season as Downtown Manager.
Reiterating Tweeten’s all-hands-on-deck sentiment, it really did take multiple entities, businesses, and yes, hands to bring the annual holiday atmosphere to life this year. Because we quickly go from one holiday to the next, the Downtown sheds its cornstalks and harvest vibe, transitioning to an evergreen and ever-lit wonderland in almost overnight fashion, which leaves one to assume elves got to work burning the midnight oil. However, if you were driving around Downtown in the days leading up to Opening Day, aka Ladies Opening Night, then you most likely witnessed evidence of the great redecorating.
Between leaf pickup and prepping for impending winter weather, the Department of Public Works set to work during a sunny, albeit chilly day, wrapping wreaths with strings of lights and installing the wreaths and garlands on lampposts. They also bedecked the massive Pennsylvania Park pine tree with colored lights for the annual tree-lighting ceremony during Holiday Open House. But getting all the fir, foliage, bows, and bulbs in order was a bit of a kerfuffle.
Earlier this fall, Tweeten found herself in a slight predicament. Coveyou Scenic Farms, a longtime provider of large lamppost wreaths, could not fulfill Downtown Petoskey’s annual order. Needing 37 natural wreaths—no artificial boughs for this town—Tweeten had to find a replacement fast. Tweeten’s search led her to Walloon Lake-based Sweetwater Floral and its owner, Petoskey resident Kalin Sheick.
Made of Fraser Fir, each wreath you see adorning our Narnia-esque lampposts required roughly 23 pounds of fir, weighing in at a whopping 40 pounds and spanning nearly 6 feet in diameter. It took the Sweetwater Floral team about three full days to produce the 37 hand-tied wreaths, a project that helped get them in the yuletide spirit.
“Having our wreaths as a part of this historic holiday décor is a dream come true for our team,” said Sheick. “I remember visiting Petoskey during the holidays in 2013 and falling in love with the wreaths on the gaslight posts. It’s a full circle moment for sure.”
But as you know, the wreaths are just a part of this holiday puzzle. Bill McMaster of the hallowed Bill’s Farm Market provided 2,862 lineal feet of evergreen garland to wind around each lamppost. Jonathan Meyer of Meyer Ace Hardware was the purveyor of a two-year-worth supply of the special, clear light bulbs that get festooned around the wreaths and garlands. Terry Barrette of the Department of Public Works reminded Tweeten about the red bows that are incorporated in the exterior decorations, and Meyer Ace Hardware prepped all 491 of them for pickup. The holiday-ification of our quaint shopping and culture district precisely exemplifies what this time of year is about—coming together and making merry for one and all.
“I am so grateful for the effort so many people took to help us make Downtown Petoskey the showcase it is!” added Tweeten. “I cannot say enough about how amazing a team this community has.”
As they say, many hands make light work, and thanks to the many hands and minds that have worked on sprucing up Downtown Petoskey, we all get to bask in the seasonal glow of the holidays. Cheers to you and yours!
