ST. JOSEPH, Mich. — Getting in the holiday spirit is easy when you visit the Victorian-era downtown in St. Joseph, Mich. during the month of December. Four family-favorite events to celebrate the season will take place Dec. 4-5.

Light Up the Bluff on Dec. 4 will transform Lake Bluff Park when the mayor flips the switch at 6:30 p.m. and a million lights twinkle on the community tree and holiday-themed displays. The light display and music will continue each evening until the end of December. The lights will then remain on through Feb. 15 for Valentine’s Day planning in Michigan’s Most Romantic City. This display is sponsored by the St. Joseph Improvement Association.

Following the tree lighting, visitors can stroll downtown and enjoy the Fourth Annual Live Mannequins sponsored by Edgewater Bank and Southwestern Michigan Tourist Council. Dozens of community volunteers will pose perfectly still in participating store windows from 7 to 8:30 p.m. This year’s theme features different eras. All ages will have fun seeing a variety of scenes from different periods of time. New this year, visitors will enjoy an encore live mannequin presentation at several locations on Dec. 5 from 11 a.m. – noon. Gift hunters will appreciate the unique selections, special prices and festive shopping atmosphere that evening and throughout December.

On Dec. 5, the 17th Annual Reindog Holiday Parade, sponsored by FuzzyButz, steps off at 4 p.m. Pets and pet owners dress up in holiday costumes to entertain visitors along State St. Featured parade guests include Flick from Celebration Cinema, Splash from Silver Beach Center, Curious Rex from the Curious Kids’ Museum, the queens from the Southwest Michigan Scholarship Fund and Santa and Mrs. Claus. Parade participants may get registration forms at FuzzyButz on State St., St. Joseph Today’s downtown office or at stjoetoday.com. A portion of the net proceeds from participant registration fees will be donated to Animal Aid of Southwestern Michigan.

After the parade, children can share their wish lists with Santa at Santa’s House, sponsored by the Herald-Palladium, until 7 p.m. Santa will be at the house, located at State and Pleasant Streets, until Dec. 23. House hours are Thursdays and Fridays from 4 to 6 p.m., Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 3 p.m. Special hours will also be offered Dec. 21-23 for those last minute requests.

Keeping with the Reindog pet theme, local charity Animal Aid of Southwestern Michigan will hold its annual open house at Silver Beach Hotel on Saturday Dec. 5. Visitors can buy treats from the bake sale, learn about pet adoption opportunities, make year-end donations and more.

For more information about these and other December activities, contact St. Joseph Today at 269-985-1111 or visit stjoetoday.com or facebook.com/stjoetoday.

St. Joseph Today, a membership-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is dedicated to developing and promoting events and business in St. Joseph, Mich. and its surround communities.