By James Windell
It couldn’t have been a more fitting holiday kickoff than the Holiday in the Park event on Friday, November 28, 2025.
The event, organized by Visit South Haven, brought people to downtown South Haven where everybody was having fun.
By 4:00 pm, the downtown area, especially around Dyckman park was bustling with people as they milled throughout the park stopping for s’mores as the S’mores Station, ice skated in the Pavilion or greeted friends while waiting for the parade. A block away people sat around the bar at the renovated Forest House Hotel drinking winter beverages.
Shortly after 5:00 pm, the Claus and Paws Parade rolled down Phoenix Street featuring dog owners and their pets, trucks filled with people and blow-up holidays characters, and at the very end Santa Claus and Mrs. Santa. They disembarked from their Mustang at Dyckman Park where they had their photos taken with dozens of children and families.
The final event of the Holiday in the Park was the lighting of the decorated tree in front of City Hall. COSY-FM radio personality Paul Layendecker did the countdown before the tree came alive with vivid colored lights.
However, Santa wasn’t finished with his weekend duties. On Sunday, November 30, he showed up at the Scott Club for Brunch with Santa where he delighted children with conversation and gifts.
Christmas photos by Tom Renner and James Windell
