By By ERIN VER BERKMOES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - It's beginning to look a lot like Christmans in Niles as crews from the City of Niles put up the holiday decorations on South 11th Street on Thursday.
To mark the holiday season several events are being held in local communities.
Niles
Downtown Trolley Hop, each Friday, Nov. 11, 18, and 25, from 5 to 9 p.m.
Residents can ride the Trolley for free and merchants will be open late. Refreshements and entertainment will be available.
Decorate for the Holidays, Tuesday, Nov. 29, from 1 to 3 p.m.
Help decorate downtown Niles for the holiday season. Meet at 210 E. Main St. Afterwards enjoy chili and hot cocoa with friends, new and old.
Holiday Homecoming, Saturday, Dec. 3, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., enjoy breakfast with Rudolph and friends at the Golden Nuggett Saloon, located at 202 E. Main St.
Shop till you drop downtown, on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Look for stocking at downtown merchants with a $5 Santa Shop area.
Visit 127 E. Main, for the co-op Santa Shop and Santa at his new house at 207 N. Second St., on Saturday, Dec. 3, from noon to 2 p.m.
Celebrate the lighting of the Niles Train Depot with the Four Flags Garden Club, on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 4 to 6 p.m.
Watch as downtown Niles is lit with holiday spirit on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 6:30 p.m.
Dec. 3rd- Holiday Homecoming
Visit Santa every Thursday till Christmas, Dec. 8, 15 and 22 from 5 to 7:30 p.m., at 207 N. Second St. Pictures with Santa available for $3.
Downtown Trolley Hop Fridays till Christmas, Dec. 2, 9 and 16, from 7 to 9 p.m. Ride for free.
Hunter Ice Festival Jan 13-14-15
Buchanan
Each year the city of Buchanan holds a tree lighting ceremony. This year's event will be on Friday, Dec. 2, at 6:30 p.m., at the common.
There will be a Santa parade and caroling which will travel to the Senior Center.
Klarich added the Buchanan area churches will likely have special events, but none have been reported as of yet and the Buchanan Art Center is in the process of planning a choral concert for Dec. 1.
Dowagiac
Christmas Open House Weekend, Nov. 19 and 20, also signals the start of extended hours at several of Dowagiac's specialty shops that will be open Sundays through the holiday season.
During Open House Sunday, the participating stores will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The 10 host sites are: Apparel Alternatives, Booth's Country Florist, Harding's Friendly Market, Imperial Furniture, Laurie Anne's, The Marshall Shoppe, Murphy's Flowers &Greenhouses, Suite Dreams, Vincent J.Jewelers and The Wren's Nest.
The annual evening Candlelight Christmas Parade, will be Friday, Dec. 2, at 7:30 p.m.