Downtown for the Holidays
​December 5, 2025
5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Downtown South Bend will be kicking off their month-long series of holiday programming this First Fridays - "Downtown for the Holidays!"
About
The holiday season kicks off this First Fridays where we will be celebrating "Downtown for the Holidays!"
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Santa Claus is coming to town and downtown South Bend will be alive with holiday cheer at the annual DTSB Tree Lighting Ceremony, presented by Indiana Michigan Power.
It all kicks off at the Gridiron at 5:00 p.m. with live music by Joe Baughman + The Righteous Few, performances by the Southold Dance Theater, South Bend Civic Theatre, IU South Bend Kickline, Creative Dance’N, Nuner Elementary Marching Band & Color Guard, River Bend Chorus, plus interactive holiday songs, festive photo ops, giveaways, holiday merch, and fireworks.
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Santa will be arriving a little after 6:00 pm to light the tree, and Santa's House will be open for visitors directly after, approximately 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm.
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You'll find a variety of First Fridays activities and promotions all around downtown, including Holiday in the Gallery at SBMA, wreath making at River Valley Farmers' Market, a holiday pop-up shop at the Beehive Salon, live music, and more.
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This First Fridays is just the start of a month-long celebration of the holidays in downtown South Bend. For full holiday details, click here.
FREE PARKING
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Parking (on-street and in City-managed garages) is always free in downtown South Bend nights and weekends. For full details on downtown parking options, click here.
Tree Lighting Ceremony presented by Indiana Michigan Power
The Gridiron
5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
This year's Tree Lighting Ceremony will feature live music by Joe Baughman + The Righteous Few, performances by Southold Dance Theater, IU South Bend Kickline, Creative Dance'N, River Bend Chorus, Nuner Elementary, and South Bend Civic Theatre, plus a holiday photo op, roving mascots, holiday merch sales, a Santa letter station, giveaways, and more!
South Bend Civic Theatre will be bringing some of their elves to the event, as well aslsa, Anna, Olaf, and the Grinch. There will be food and retail vendors at the event. ​Be sure to check out the Gingerbread Village Display in the lobby of the Courtyard by Marriott!
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Santa will make his grand entrance to downtown a little after 6:00 p.m. for the lighting of the Gridiron Tree. Santa’s House will then officially open for visitors at approximately 6:30 to 9:00 p.m.
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Tree Lighting Schedule
5:00 p.m. - Nuner Elementary Marching Band & Color Guard
5:10 p.m. - Holiday Music by Joe Baughman + The Righteous Few
5:30 p.m. – Interactive Holiday Songs
5:40 p.m. – Southold Dance Theater
5:50 p.m. – South Bend Civic Theatre
6:00 p.m. – Creative DanceN’
6:10 p.m. - IU South Bend Kickline
6:20 p.m. - Santa's Arrival followed by Tree Lighting & Fireworks
6:30 p.m. - Joe Baughman + The Righteous Few
7:15 p.m. – River Bend Chorus
7:30 p.m. – Joe Baughman + The Righteous Few
121 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
Dec. 5- Dec. 24
Check out this year’s Gingerbread Village Competition entries in the lobby of the Courtyard by Marriott and vote for your favorite. Special thanks to 1st Source Bank for their sponsorship of this year's Gingerbread Village Competition!
SBMA Holiday in the Gallery
120 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Join us for a festive evening at the South Bend Museum of Art’s annual Holiday Art Market! This is going to be the perfect place to find one-of-a-kind gifts from local artists and makers. This special First Friday also marks the opening of our Student Faculty Exhibition, showcasing the creativity of SBMA’s own community of artists. Enjoy live music from Fischoff Academy, explore the galleries, and mingle with friends as we celebrate the arts this holiday season. This event is free, open to the public, and fun for all ages. Complimentary refreshments will be provided.
Holiday Pop-up Shop at Beehive Salon
706 E. Jefferson Blvd.
5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Holiday Pop-up Shop with resale clothing, high-quality resale furniture, unique and one-of-a-kind holiday housewares and decor, handmade Christmas ornaments, jams & jellies, and more. Open 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. this First Fridays and 10:00 am. to 4:00 p.m. Saturday, December 6.
Visits with Santa
Gridiron
6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Santa's House will open up for visitors directly following the fireworks show, at approximately 6:30 p.m. Bring your camera for free photos with Santa in his red house by the South Bend Chocolate Cafe.
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Santa visits are completely free with no reservations required! Santa visits are presented by Indiana Michigan Power.
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Here is the full Santa schedule:
Friday: December 5 | 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Fridays: December 12*, 19 | 5 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
*Santa takes a break from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. for the Holiday Light Parade
Saturdays: December 6, 13, 20 | 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sunday: December 7 | 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sundays: December 14, 21 | 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Monday, December 23 | 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Tuesday, December 24 | 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The Gridiron
5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
We will have several organizations and vendors at the Gridiron this First Fridays:
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Aromas Durango
Froggies Concession & Inflatables
Ko-s port-a-pit
Indiana Whiskey Company
IU South Bend
Nutrition HQ
Renewal by Anderson
Retech Displays
Sippin' Dirty
SJCPL
Temet Jewelry​
300 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Suite 103
6:00 p.m.
Bunbury Gallery – located in the historic St. Joseph Station - features a mixture of regional, national and international artists. This First Fridays, they will have 15% discount on all gifts / homewares
401 E. Colfax Ave.
6:00 p.m.
Spend an evening with friends making evergreen wreaths and getting into the Christmas spirit! $25 fee required to offset cost of materials.
December First Fridays Events and Promotions
Ongoing First Fridays Promotions
714 E. Jefferson Blvd.
A Healing Oasis invites you to attend their First Fridays Open House, which is all about you coming to find out what their practitioners have to offer. Healers share their "magic" by offering mini sessions. You will also have a chance to check out their retail space, group events, and what services are at A Healing Oasis.
127 N. Main St.
Enjoy live music by Kennedy's Kitchen from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. every First Fridays!
1025 Northside Blvd.
Live music by Lucas Miner and 20% off bottles of MI Cabernet Franc​
121 S. Niles Ave.
Perry Vine - located inside the Emporium Building - will be doing tastings this First Fridays. Enjoy three free 1 oz. tastings, and additional for tastings $1.50. They will also have bottles for sale! Bring back your clean bottles and receive 10% off your next purchase!
WXYZ Bar at Aloft
111 N. Main St.
Buy 1 flatbread pizza and get a 2nd flatbread pizza at 1/2 off; plus monthly Cocktail for a Cause, with $1 from every cocktail sold donated to their featured charity of the month.
Plus Live @ Aloft with DJ Outlaw playing your favorite tunes. Live @ Aloft features local artists, groups or DJs playing music every Friday from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. in the WXYZ lounge.
SPONSORS
