DOWAGIAC – New measures will be taken this year to help ensure the public’s safety at Dowagiac’s upcoming Dec. 6 Candle-light Christmas Parade.

Officials of the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce announced Monday in order to maintain a safe environment for the public and for parade participants, Mayor Don Lyons and the Dowagiac City Council approved a request to close Front Street to through traffic beginning at 2 p.m.

“In doing so, there will be no on-street parking for the Dec. 6 parade,” Kim MacGregor, chamber president and parade co-chairman said. “This will allow adequate room for families to safely watch the event, without the fear of parade units coming too close to the crowd. While we have always been concerned about safety, as the parade has grown, it has attracted larger units. In past years, we brought in an additional volunteer crew, which together with Dowagiac police, monitored the crowd from edging too far out into the street.  The closure of parking on Front Street is another step to ensure everyone’s safety.”

In preparation for closing Front Street, MacGregor said the morning of the parade, barricades and caution tape will be used to close angle parking on the west side of the street.

“Through-traffic and parking on the east side of the street will remain open until 2 p.m. At that point, we will close the full street,” she said. “Any vehicles remaining on the street at 3 p.m. will be relocated to the city parking lot behind the former Huntington Bank.”

A complimentary shuttle service operated by volunteers will run from parking lots to various businesses from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., MacGregor said. On Beeson Street, visitors will have the opportunity to view two parade units up close and talk with construction teams.

Also this year, the life-size Elf on the Shelf, which first debuted at Dowagiac’s holiday celebration in 2018 and again at the recent Open House Weekend, returns for parade day to greet families. 

Dowagiac’s Candle-light Christmas Parade kicks off at 7 p.m. on Dec. 6 with pre-parade entertainment beginning at 5:30 p.m. in and around Beckwith Park. 

Performances that evening kick off at 5:30 p.m. with Miss Michele & Co., followed by Green Dance Academy at 6 p.m. and Lighthouse Choir at 6:45 p.m.  The annual tree lighting and introduction of this year’s Grand Marshal begins at 6:30 p.m.

Along with Ascension Borgess-Lee Hospital, corporate sponsors of the holiday celebration include: The Business Center of Southwestern Michigan, Clark Chapel / Starks Funeral Homes, Cass County Council on Aging, Deck the Halls, Dowagiac Area Federal Credit Union, Dowagiac Area History Museum, Edward Jones office of Kim MacGregor, Imperial Furniture, John A. Vylonis Custom Building, Mahar Insurance, The Timbers of Cass County, Vincent J. Jewelers and a private donor.