VFW Christmas Drive
VFW Post 1137 in Watervliet is accepting donations of canned goods and other non-perishables for their annual Needy Family Christmas Program. Please contact Corky Openneer at 269-944-9501 for more details.
It’s a Hometown Christmas in Watervliet Dec. 4 & 5
Visit the City of Watervliet Saturday, Dec. 4 and Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021 to celebrate the holiday magic! There are some great family-friendly events planned including a cookie decorating contest for the kiddies, the Outdoor Holiday Bazaar, Mannequins on Main Street, Cookies & Cocoa with Watervliet Fire Department, horse drawn wagon/buggy rides, and the ever popular visit from the jolly elf himself, Santa. The Grinch will be back again this year visiting “Whoville” as well. All this on Saturday!
Santa and Mrs. Claus return on Sunday for the tree lighting following the Hometown Christmas Parade. Prior to the parade Snow Prince & Princess for 2021 are crowned.
Kids Cookie Decorating
On Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m. Watervliet is the place for a fun afternoon of decorating cookies and visiting Santa and Mrs. Claus. This event is being held at Next Door Event Center next to The Flower Basket on Main Street. Cookies, frosting and sprinkles will be provided.
Outdoor Holiday Bazaar
Shop Small and shop early by strolling through the Holiday Bazaar in the parking lot on Main Street adjacent to Jot Liquor and across from Local 3. The bazaar goes from 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 4. Enjoy Christmas music and food while you shop! And don’t forget to support the many Main Street shops that will have special holiday hours during Watervliet’s Hometown Holiday Celebration.
Annual Arclight Brewing Company Chili Cook-Off on Saturday
Arclight Brewery is offering their annual Chili Cook-Off Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021 in celebration of Watervliet’s Hometown Christmas. Tasting begins at 6:30 p.m.
Food trucks will be in town for the festival in Arclight and Main Street parking lots. And from 8 until 11 p.m., Arclight will host live music!
Main Street Saturday Night
Some businesses will have a live mannequin display in their windows facing Main Street Watervliet on Saturday evening from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Stroll down the sidewalks to enjoy these displays and the festive decorations and lights dressing up our Hometown Christmas.
Festival goers can also enjoy horse drawn wagon and buggy rides to view the downtown windows and decorations.
Be sure to stop by the Cookies & Hot Cocoa stand offered by the Watervliet Fire Department for evening refreshment while warming your hands by the open fire pits throughout the town.
Snow Prince & Princess Contest
Voting boxes will be at Watervliet Wesco, B&B Grocery, Local 3, TJs Bar & Grill, and Side Track II Cafe leading up to the crowning ceremony for the 2021 Snow Prince & Snow Princess.
A 4 p.m. crowning ceremony will take place this year on Sunday, Dec. 5 at the Watervliet Fire Department for contestants in 6th through 8th grades.
Hometown Christmas Parade on Sunday includes a stop for formal tree lighting
There will be a parade downtown starting at 5:30 p.m. from Watervliet Fire Department and ending at Arclight Brewery. Mr. Mattson and his Watervliet Elementary Choir will lead the parade.
Immediately after the parade the choir will make their way to the big tree by the Main Street parking lot (Whoville area) across from Local 3 for a formal tree lighting ceremony with Santa. The choir will perform some familiar holiday tunes.
Children can visit with Santa & Mrs. Claus by the Christmas tree until 8 p.m. on Sunday while enjoying cookies and hot cocoa.
Toys for Tots
From now until the December 5 there will be a drop box at Arclight Brewery for community members to make donations of new unwrapped toys to the Toys for Tots program.
Christmas services at Hartford United Methodist Church
Hartford United Methodist Church, 425 E. Main St., invites the public to their regular Sunday service at 10 a.m. each week. Also, they are having special services during this holiday season that are open to the public.
On Tuesday, Dec. 21 there is a Blue Christmas Service at 7 p.m. and then Christmas Eve Candle Light Services are on Friday, Dec. 24 at 7 and 11 p.m.