Category: Holiday

20 things to do this holiday season in Downtown Wabash, Indiana

Posted on by Downtown Wabash

There’s a little bit of holiday magic for everyone to discover in Downtown Wabash! To help you experience the most you can, we’ve compiled a top-twenty list of must-dos this season. Explore Christmas lights, excursions & events, holiday shopping and more.

P.S.: We suggest turning on some Christmas music while you read!

1. Kick off the holiday season at Jingle Jubilee

Kick off the hometown holiday season with the whole family and all your friends! Jingle Jubilee returns to Downtown Wabash in 2024 as the district’s decades-old tradition of officially kicking off the holiday season on November 15 from 4-8 p.m.

Jingle Jubilee is FREE and open to the public complete with the competitive Jingle Jubilee Stamping Map, the traditional lighting of the Wabash County Courthouse, a live nativity scene on Miami Street provided by Bachelor Creek Church, lots of hot cocoa, holiday shopping specials, Santa, twinkling lights galore and so much more!

2. Meet Mr. and Mrs. Claus at Wabash Friends Church

Join 95.9 KISS FM – WKUZ Radio with Santa and Mrs. Claus at Wabash Friends Church, on December 7 from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm. There will be a bounce house, crafts and giveaways!

3. Stroll through a winter wonderland at ‘Lights at Paradise’ 

There’s nothing better than gazing at Christmas lights! Starting on November 14, explore more than 24 light displays at Paradise Spring Park. Lighted photo-ops are available throughout the park. 

4. Shop for Christmas gifts locally

Check off every item on your holiday shopping list with more than 100 small businesses in Downtown! We encourage you to #ShopSmall every day, but especially during this season. You won’t want to miss out on spreading holiday cheer by supporting local business owners and taking advantage of great holiday deals. 

Black Friday: November 29, 2024 
Small Business Saturday: Our favorite holiday: the Saturday after Thanksgiving, meant for supporting small, local businesses for holiday shopping and more on November 30, 2024!
Cyber Monday: December 2, 2024

5. Give back to your community 

Spread joy through giving back and supporting your community this holiday season! Consider donating to local charities and nonprofit organizations or volunteering your time. Participate in Giving Tuesday, the global day of giving on December 3, 2024.

6. Take a s(elf)ie with Santa 

Grab your crew and head to Veterans Plaza to take a photo with the Holiday Greetings Santa Mural!

7. Make a homemade gift at Make It Your Own Art Studio

Paint a pottery piece, create a canvas painting and more to add a personal touch to someone on your list’s gift this year. Let your creativity flow at Make it Your Own! 

Pro Tip: If painting a pottery piece, make sure to visit Make it Your Own early in the holiday season to have your masterpiece back before Christmas. The pieces have to be fired in the kiln! 

8. Create your own holiday scent at JoJo’s Olfactory & Co. 

Embrace the holidays through every sense, including smell! Visit JoJo’s Olfactory & Co. and make a holiday-scented candle, reed diffuser, car freshener, wax cubes, etc. to freshen up every space you own with the season’s tidings. 

9. Schedule your Christmas card portraits 

Book a seasonal session with Nicole A. Howard Photography or Kaleigh M Photography to get an updated photo of the fam to send as your Christmas card this year! Be sure to bring your jolliest smile, and leave the resting grinch face at home. 

Contact: Nicole A. Howard Photography 

Contact: Kaleigh M. Photography

10. Spend a night in ‘Wabash Winterland’ with Holiday Shopping & a Cookie Walk on December’s First Friday 

Returning for the fourth year in a row, the Downtown Wabash Cookie Walk will feature delicious holiday treats to sample from various businesses while you cross off your holiday shopping to-do list. Hop from business to business in Downtown Wabash for a tasty holiday treat and a chance to win a holiday gift basket with local goodies!

11. Aboard Trolley No. 85 for a Holiday Trolley Tour around Wabash County

Explore holiday activities and festivities in Downtown Wabash and Beyond on Visit Wabash County’s Jolly Trolley Tour on Saturday, December 14. Festivities include a hot cocoa bar, a Holiday Puppet Show, Storytime and Christmas Caroling with Mrs. Claus, Christmas crafts and photos with Santa! Purchase tickets for the family for this fan-favorite holiday excursion. 

12. Find a good book to read at Reading Room Books 

Winter is the perfect time to cozy up by the fireplace with a good book. Make a trip to Reading Room Books to explore hundreds of titles. Your options are endless (it’s the largest bookstore in Indiana!)

13. Drink hot cocoa with friends at Modoc’s Market

Need we say more? Sip and savor quality time over a warm cup of coffee, hot cocoa, eggnog or your favorite holiday drink with your dearest friends and family. 

14. Check out the holiday window displays & lights 

Craving more Christmas light attractions after a night at Lights at Paradise? The rest of downtown is sparkling with holiday displays, too! Stroll through the district and admire storefront decorations, lights in the alley walkway, trees at the Honeywell Center & the skyline of lights hanging above Market Street! 

15. Celebrate the holidays with your favorite throwback movies. 

Spend an evening at Eagles Theatre watching your favorite holiday classics! There’s a movie title for everyone, with selections of movies from the nice list (rated G & PG) and the naughty list (rated PG-13 & R). Check out the full holiday movie schedule and buy your tickets in advance here.

16. Enjoy a winter weekend with the family at the Wabash County Museum  

The Wabash County Museum is filled with family activities during the holiday season! Check out what’s happening at the Museum on Facebook. Aside from extra holiday activities, the museum is a perfect place to explore while on Christmas break! 

17. Catch a live holiday show at The Honeywell Center

Gift an experience this year with live shows at the Honeywell Center! From A Magical Cirque Christmas to the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Holiday Pops, there’s a show for everyone. See a full list of live shows here.

18. Cozy up by the fire with a holiday cocktail at 4 Partners in Crime 

Experience homemade tapas, sweet treats and festive cocktails & mocktails in the warmth of the vibrant, charming space that is 4 Partners in Crime. Call for reservations or simply walk-in during business hours, Friday and Saturday from 5-10 p.m.

19. Dress up for a holiday dinner date at more than 7 restaurants 

Dress your best for a night on the town! Explore dining options in the downtown district and plan a date night with your special someone or a group of friends! 

20. Have a snowball fight at Paradise Spring Park 

Kids from one to ninety-two are encouraged to have fun and enjoy all holiday traditions. Have a (friendly) snowball fight, make a snow angel or build a snowman when fresh powder hits the ground at Paradise Spring Park.

Mark Your Calendars for 40+ Downtown Wabash Events

Posted on by Downtown Wabash

Each year, Downtown Wabash, Inc. works diligently to organize beloved events such as First Fridays, The Downtown Wabash Farmers Market, Summer Sidewalk Sales, Trick-or-Treat Extravaganza, Jingle Jubilee and Shop Small Weekend.

Mark your calendars and get excited to experience the vibrancy of our downtown district by enjoying family-friendly activities, shopping at charming downtown businesses, treating yourself to delightful cuisine and admiring local arts & culture. Ready to check out the full Downtown Wabash, Inc. schedule of events for 2024? Let’s jump in!

Wabash First Fridays

These monthly street festivals from 5-8 p.m. bring so much energy to downtown. Each one will be a night to remember with downtown shopping specials, local restaurants and food trucks, arts & culture, lively Miami Street activities and so much more.

February First Friday: Shop Your Heart Out
Feb. 2: Fall in love with Downtown Wabash during the first First Friday of the year. Bring your loved ones for an evening full of sweet treats, admirable shopping specials and a chance to win local goodies from the downtown businesses you adore.

March First Friday: March Madness Bar Crawl
March 1: No matter what team you’re cheering for this season, the March Madness Bar Crawl will be a night full of good times and drinks all around. Participate in a bracket-style stamping map while exploring the best craft cocktails, beer & wine in downtown. (The bar crawl is for 21+ only. Remember to drink responsibly!)

April First Friday: Downtown Luau
April 5: Celebrate the arrival of spring with this Luau-inspired First Friday. Embrace the warmer weather with tropical vibes in our very own downtown paradise.

May First Friday: Bike & Bloom
May 3: Welcome spring by getting active and admiring blooming flowers everywhere! This picturesque First Friday will leave you inspired by the freshness of spring and motivated to appreciate the beauty of nature through biking.

June First Friday: Paint the Plow & Wabash Cultural District Celebration
June 7: The Wabash Cultural District is alive and well in Downtown Wabash! Come celebrate with live music, interactive art displays, dancing & more! Participate in Paint the Plow on Miami Street, an annual hands-on art experience for the whole family presented by the City of Wabash Street Department.

July First Friday: Sock Hop with The Bulldogs
July 5: This sweet summertime evening will be complete with a concert by The Bulldogs, memorable dancing on Miami street, classic backyard cookout cuisine and cherished time with our Wabash community. Bring your dancing shoes and get ready to dance the night away!

August First Friday: Downtown Throwdown
Aug. 2: Formerly known as Thrash in the Bash, the thrilling outdoor youth wrestling tournament returns for another year! Watch all the action from the Miami Street sidelines while enjoying local downtown shopping, dining and arts & culture.

September First Friday: Bark in the Bash
Sept. 6: What could possibly make our First Fridays even better? Puppies, of course! Enjoy an evening spent playing with some cute, cuddly and furry friends in Downtown Wabash.

October First Friday: Wizardly Wabash
Oct. 4: Calling all Harry Potter fans – this is your time to shine! Embark on an unforgettable adventure as we bring some wizardly magic to Downtown Wabash for this extra special First Friday. No matter what Hogwarts House you are a part of, you belong here.

November First Friday: Give Thanks & The Cornucopia of Nonprofits
Nov. 1: ‘Tis the season to give thanks, and there’s no better way to do so than appreciating the several nonprofits in downtown that are dedicated to powerful missions! Visit them yourselves as you travel throughout downtown with a stamping map activity. These organizations give so much to our local community and we’re so excited to honor them during November’s First Friday.

December First Friday: Annual Downtown Cookie Walk
Dec. 6: Returning for its fourth year, the Downtown Cookie Walk will feature delicious holiday treats to sample from various businesses while you cross off your holiday shopping to-do-list.

Wabash First Fridays in 2024 are sponsored by Pettit Printing and 95.9 KISS FM.

Downtown Wabash Farmers Market

The Farmers Market is overflowing with local handmade, homemade and homegrown vendors offering fresh selection of produce, baked goods and unique artisan items to the community. This family-friendly event offers hot breakfast, coffee and specialty drink vendors, live music, kids activities and more. The Downtown Wabash Farmers Market accepts SNAP benefits and offers Double Up Indiana incentives.

The action takes place every Saturday morning from 8 a.m. – noon, May 11 – September 28, at the Honeywell Center (275 W. Market St.)

(In conjunction with the Dave Kunkel Cruise-In, the Downtown Wabash Farmers Market will move to Paradise Spring Park, 351 W. Market St., on Saturday, Aug. 17 from 8 a.m. – noon.)

The Downtown Wabash Farmers Market is generously sponsored by WEOC Women’s Business Center.

Summer Sidewalk Sales

Snag some great deals during this weekend-long shopping spree taking place on the sidewalks along Downtown Wabash businesses. But wait, there’s more! You can also explore the riveting 25th Annual Dave Kunkel Cruise-In for a weekend to remember.

Friday & Saturday, Aug. 16 & 17

Downtown Wabash Trick-or-Treat Extravaganza, presented by Downtown Wabash, Inc. & Wabash Trucking

Downtown Wabash’s Greatest Spectacle in Candy returns with a LITERAL TON of candy, the famous Wabash Trucking candy dump on Miami Street, a competitive costume contest, community vendors, additional trick-or-treating at downtown businesses and so much more.

Saturday, Oct. 26 from 5-7 p.m.

Downtown Trick-or-Treat Extravaganza is generously sponsored by Wabash Trucking and Bachelor Creek Church.

Jingle Jubilee

Kick off the holiday season in style with the annual lighting of the Wabash County Courthouse, Santa sightings, live reindeer, hot cocoa and twinkling lights.

Friday, Nov. 15 from 4-9 p.m.

Miami Street Festivities during Jingle Jubilee are generously sponsored by Bachelor Creek.

Shop Local to Win

Our award-winning holiday shopping campaign, Shop Local to Win, is returning for another year! When you shop local, you support our incredible downtown businesses. Plus, you might even win a locally-curated prize package from your favorite coffee shop, shopping spot, storefront, etc.

Nov. 15 – Dec. 15

Shop Small Weekend

You won’t want to miss the holiday shopping weekend of the year where you can score amazing deals while supporting local businesses, artists and organizations.

Friday, Nov. 29: Black Friday
Saturday, Nov. 30: Small Business Saturday
Sunday, Dec. 1: Artist Sunday
Monday, Dec. 2: Cyber Monday
Tuesday, Dec. 3: Giving Tuesday

There will be more information and event details to come, so be sure to follow along on social media and check out our Downtown Wabash, Inc. event calendar!

Plan a Roadtrip to 12 Nationally Accredited Main Street Communities in Indiana 

Posted on by Adrianna Town

Small Business Saturday launched Indiana Main Street’s ‘Shop Small IN Indiana’ campaign that highlights 12 Nationally Accredited Main Street communities throughout Indiana! The initiative was designed to encourage shoppers to support local small businesses while exploring new communities. Although the campaign was introduced on Small Business Saturday, its reach will continue to expand as community members are encouraged to participate during the holiday season and beyond.

What started with an idea for a community shopping and amenities guide, quickly formed into an immersive experience that promotes exploring several of the outstanding Nationally Accredited Main Street districts across Indiana.

“As the State coordinating program for Indiana, our main goal is to offer support to our main street communities,” says Andrea Kern, OCRA Director of Strategic Initiatives. “The ‘Shop Small IN Indiana’ campaign is a great way for us to promote tourism to these communities and encourage people to spend their dollars in some of the best downtowns in Indiana.” 

The vision behind this campaign creates the perfect holiday shopping activity for those with an adventurous spirit! By participating in ‘Shop Small IN Indiana,’ you can discover how many amazing communities are represented by Nationally Accredited Main Street organizations while supporting small businesses near and far. Plus, you may even find a new favorite store, restaurant or travel destination!

It All Starts with a Free Tote Bag

So, how can community members like yourself get involved? You can stop by any of the 12 participating Main Street organizations to receive a free ‘Shop Small IN Indiana’ tote bag to kick off your journey. The tote bag will include an extensive shopping guide that features each participating community, an Indiana Main Street pin and the corresponding Main Street organization’s pin. From there, get excited to plan a road trip with stops at all 12 locations to collect the remaining pins and discover what these downtown districts have to offer!

Visiting each location gives you the chance to experience delightful new communities. Tote bags will be available while supplies last, but the guides are a unique tool that can be used well into the future. You can use the guides to plan your next travel excursion, make a list of favorite spots you’d like to revisit or keep on-hand in case you are ever researching businesses that offer products not available in your own community.

Downtown Wabash, Inc. is proud to be featured among the 12 Nationally Accredited Main Street communities. The option to participate in the campaign was offered to each Indiana Accredited and Nationally Accredited Main Street community, and Downtown Wabash, Inc. jumped at the opportunity to be involved. Participating organizations were able to submit promotional materials highlighted in the shopping guide and are included in the tote bag initiative. 

Those featured alongside Downtown Wabash, Inc. are: Aurora Main Street, Main Street Brookville, Frankfort Main Street, Jeffersonville Main Street, Historic Downtown Kendallville, Lawrenceburg Main Street, Heart of Lebanon, Madison Main Street, Richmond Main Street, Seymour Main Street and Shelbyville Main Street. 

The campaign further supports Main Street organizations’ efforts by providing an opportunity for visitors to experience the vibrancy of each downtown district. Not only that, but the initiative also contributes to economic development by boosting local spending and promoting downtown businesses.

Downtown Businesses Benefit

An emphasis on shopping local was fundamental in the creation of the campaign, as locally-owned businesses are the heart of thriving downtown districts. According to American Express, 67 cents of every dollar spent at local small businesses stays within the local economy. The ‘Shop Small IN Indiana’ initiative provides the perfect opportunity for customers to complete holiday shopping while simultaneously giving back to local communities.

Even though some of the destinations may be further away, several businesses have an online presence with the ability to ship products to customers. This means if you find a new favorite business while visiting all 12 locations, you can maintain that connection and continue to receive the products you love. The overall intention is that businesses within participating Main Street communities will get to welcome new visitors who one day may become loyal customers.

20 things to do this holiday season in Downtown Wabash, Indiana

Posted on by Downtown Wabash

There’s a little bit of holiday magic for everyone to discover in Downtown Wabash! To help you experience the most you can, we’ve compiled a top-twenty list of must-dos this season. Explore Christmas lights, excursions & events, holiday shopping and more.

P.S.: We suggest turning on some Christmas music while you read!

1. Kick off the holiday season at Jingle Jubilee

Kick off the hometown holiday season with the whole family and all your friends! Jingle Jubilee returns to Downtown Wabash in 2023 as the district’s decades-old tradition of officially kicking off the holiday season on November 17 from 4-9 p.m.

Jingle Jubilee is FREE and open to the public complete with the competitive Jingle Jubilee Stamping Map, the traditional lighting of the Wabash County Courthouse, a holiday kid zone on Miami Street provided by Bachelor Creek Church, lots of hot cocoa, holiday shopping specials, live reindeer, Santa, The Grinch, twinkling lights galore and so much more!

2. Compete in ‘Shop local to Win’

Shopping locally pays off in Downtown Wabash. For every purchase you make at a participating business, scan the ‘Shop Local to Win’ QR code at each register to enter for a chance to win sweet prizes during the holiday season.

3. Stroll through a winter wonderland at ‘Lights at Paradise’ 

There’s nothing better than gazing at Christmas lights! Starting on November 17, explore more than 24 light displays at Paradise Spring Park. Lighted photo-ops are available throughout the park. 

4. Shop for Christmas gifts locally

Check off every item on your holiday shopping list with more than 100 small businesses in Downtown! We encourage you to #ShopSmall every day, but especially during this season. You won’t want to miss out on spreading holiday cheer by supporting local business owners and taking advantage of great holiday deals. 

Black Friday: November 24, 2023 
Small Business Saturday: Our favorite holiday: the Saturday after Thanksgiving, meant for supporting small, local businesses for holiday shopping and more on November 25, 2023!
Artist Sunday: November 26, 2023 
Cyber Monday: November 27, 2023 

5. Give back to your community 

Spread joy through giving back and supporting your community this holiday season! Consider donating to local charities and nonprofit organizations or volunteering your time. Participate in Giving Tuesday, the global day of giving on November 28.

6. Take a s(elf)ie with Santa 

Grab your crew and head to Veterans Plaza to take a photo with the Holiday Greetings Santa Mural!

7. Make a homemade gift at Make It Your Own Art Studio

Paint a pottery piece, create a canvas painting and more to add a personal touch to someone on your list’s gift this year. Let your creativity flow at Make it Your Own! 

Pro Tip: If painting a pottery piece, make sure to visit Make it Your Own early in the holiday season to have your masterpiece back before Christmas. The pieces have to be fired in the kiln! 

8. Create your own holiday scent at JoJo’s Olfactory & Co. 

Embrace the holidays through every sense, including smell! Visit JoJo’s Olfactory & Co. and make a holiday-scented candle, reed diffuser, car freshener, wax cubes, etc. to freshen up every space you own with the season’s tidings. 

9. Schedule your Christmas card portraits 

Book a seasonal session with Nicole A. Howard Photography or Kaleigh M Photography to get an updated photo of the fam to send as your Christmas card this year! Be sure to bring your jolliest smile, and leave the resting grinch face at home. 

Contact: Nicole A. Howard Photography 

Contact: Kaleigh M. Photography

10. Spend a night in ‘Wabash Winterland’ with Holiday Shopping & a Cookie Walk on December’s First Friday 

Returning for the third year in a row, the Downtown Wabash Cookie Walk will feature delicious holiday treats to sample from various businesses while you cross off your holiday shopping to-do list. Hop from business to business in Downtown Wabash for a tasty holiday treat and a chance to win a holiday gift basket with local goodies!

11. Aboard Trolley No. 85 for a Holiday Trolley Tour around Wabash County

Explore holiday activities and festivities in Downtown Wabash and Beyond on Visit Wabash County’s Jolly Trolley Tour on Saturday, December 9. Festivities include a hot cocoa bar, Holiday Puppet Show, Storytime and Christmas Caroling with Mrs. Claus, Christmas crafts and photos with santa! Purchase tickets for the family for this fan-favorite holiday excursion. 

12. Find a good book to read at Reading Room Books 

Winter is the perfect time to cozy up by the fireplace with a good book. Make a trip to Reading Room Books to explore hundreds of titles. Your options are endless (it’s the largest book store in Indiana!)

13. Drink hot cocoa with friends at Modoc’s Market

Need we say more? Sip and savor quality time over a warm cup of coffee, hot cocoa, eggnog or your favorite holiday drink with your dearest friends and family. 

14. Check out the holiday window displays & lights 

Craving more Christmas light attractions after a night at Lights at Paradise? The rest of downtown is sparkling with holiday displays, too! Stroll through the district and admire storefront decorations, lights in the alley walkway, trees at the Honeywell Center & the skyline of lights hanging above Market Street! 

15. Celebrate the holidays with your favorite throwback movies. 

Spend an evening at Eagles Theatre watching your favorite holiday classics! There’s a movie title for everyone, with selections of movies from the nice list (rated G & PG) and the naughty list (rated PG-13 & R). Check out the full holiday movie schedule and buy your tickets in advance here.

16. Enjoy a winter weekend with the family at the Wabash County Museum  

The Wabash County Museum is filled with family activities during the holiday season! Check out what’s happening at the Museum on Facebook. Aside from extra holiday activities, the museum is a perfect place to explore while on Christmas break! 

17. Catch a live holiday show at The Honeywell Center

Gift an experience this year with live shows at the Honeywell Center! From Cirque Dreams Holidaze to A Bing Crosby Christmas with Jared Bradshaw, there’s a show for everyone. See a full list of live shows here.

18. Cozy up by the fire with a holiday cocktail at 4 Partners in Crime 

Experience homemade tapas, sweet treats and festive cocktails & mocktails in the warmth of the vibrant, charming space that is 4 Partners in Crime. Call for reservations or simply walk-in during business hours, Wednesdays-Saturdays from 5-10 p.m. and Sunday brunch from 11 a.m.- 2 p.m.

19. Dress up for a holiday dinner date at more than 7 restaurants 

Dress your best for a night on the town! Explore dining options in the downtown district and plan a date night with your special someone or a group of friends! 

20. Have a snowball fight at Paradise Spring Park 

Kids from one to ninety-two are encouraged to have fun and enjoy all holiday traditions. Have a (friendly) snowball fight, make a snow angel or build a snowman when fresh powder hits the ground at Paradise Spring Park.

9 reasons why shopping small makes a difference

Posted on by Adrianna Town

According to CNBC, America’s largest holiday in terms of spending is Christmas by far, which is why so many retailers rely on the fourth quarter retailing season to drive their earnings. You may have noticed more pressing language in the marketing stratosphere for holiday shopping and holiday-themed events like: Shop Small, Support Small Businesses, Support Independently Owned Businesses, Support Local Businesses and lots more.

Schlemmer’s Fire & Outdoor // Warming Indiana homes since 1903, locally.

But how can we do that, really?

Shopping, ordering local take-out, tipping generously, buying gift cards and shopping now to use for later are the first, no-brainers of supporting small businesses. For every $1 spent at a small, local, independently owned business, 67¢ stays in the local economy.

While spending your dollars locally is important, there are other ways to support small businesses through digital and personal avenues. Supporting small businesses, beyond shopping, is easier than you think. 

On the digital front, consider following your favorite small businesses on social media and sharing their content to your feed for your friends and followers to see. Don’t have social media? Write an outstanding Google or Yelp review sharing all the reasons why you love those businesses so much. Subscribe to their e-newsletters (you might snag good shopping deals there, too!).

Are you someone who makes it a point to be personal with someone? Consider doing things for your favorite small businesses like going out of your way to show your appreciation or delivering lunch to the whole team. Know a small business owner personally? Check in on them and see how they’re doing and if there’s anything you can do to help support them. Refer your friends and family members to those small businesses for their shopping needs too.

Kaleigh M Photography // Capturing carefully curated moments, locally.

What’s the financial impact on the local economy when shopping at small businesses?

According to the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA), there are at least four financial impacts that shopping local has on a local economy. Apart from 67¢ on every dollar staying in the local economy, here are four more financial impacts.

By shopping local, you…

Create Local Jobs | 1.2 Million Hoosier jobs come from small businesses in Indiana. When you support small businesses in your neighborhood, you’re helping to create higher-paying jobs for your neighbors and even creating jobs for essential professions such as educators and first responders.

Help the Environment | By shopping locally, you help to conserve energy and resources in the forms of less fuel for transportation and less packaging, which reduces your personal and communal carbon footprint.

Conserve your Tax Dollars | Taking your hard-earned money into small business districts in your community means less infrastructure, less maintenance and more money to be used to beautify your community. And, spending your money locally and in-store means that your sales taxes are being reinvested where they belong: your community.

Invest in Entrepreneurship | Investing your dollars back into your community supports the creative, entrepreneurial dreams of small business owners, wanting to make their community a better, more vibrant place to be.

Badger Tool Belts // Designing Blue Collar Briefcases®, locally.

Is there more than just a financial impact when shopping at small businesses?

We look to Indiana’s OCRA for the base of this information, but we see it happening at the local level here in Wabash, Indiana, too.

By shopping local, you…

Embrace what makes your Community Unique | Each defining characteristic of a downtown district is unique to itself. When you support the small businesses that make up that district, you’re celebrating its uniqueness.

Nurture Community | The downtown district is more than just commercial and retail spaces. It’s also a neighborhood full of dreams and everyday lives of small business owners, who make a difference in your community.

Create More Choice | Shopping at small, local businesses allows small business owners to pick items and products for their racks and shelves based on what you, as the shopper, like.

Take Advantage of their Expertise | When you shop small, and support those neighborhood businesses, odds are, you’re connected to those business owners somehow. You are the friend and neighbor of business owners vested in getting to know how to serve you as the customer (and you somewhat take on an ambassador mindset when you refer your friends and neighbors to that small business).

Make your Community a Destination | As a snowball effect prompted by fellow local shoppers, the more interesting your community, the more attractive it is for people outside of your community to explore why it’s so great. This benefits everyone.

Borders & Beyond Gallery // Uniquely framing art and memories, locally.

And as a bonus, here’s our take on why it’s important to shop small and support local, independently owned businesses.

Over the 41 years that our nonprofit organization has been working toward reaching our Main Street goals, we’ve heard stories of how Downtown Wabash has changed through the decades and now it’s back to a place of bustling amenities, events, nightlife and weekend destination fun. From all shopping establishments, restaurants and bars, arts and culture amenities and outdoor recreation opportunities, we have more than 100 small businesses and things to do in our 2.5 mile footprint.

In short, Downtown Wabash has grown and continues to grow, thanks to the people who shop locally, invest in small businesses, fund our arts organizations, shape economic development projects, beautify the district, bring interactive art to the district, build new businesses, live in the district and champion the downtown district of our micropolitan city of Wabash, Indiana.

That’s our take on why shopping small and supporting small, local, independently owned businesses is important, especially for Downtown Wabash, Indiana.

Consider keeping your holiday shopping (and year-round shopping trips, date nights, coffee runs, family weekends, outdoor excursions and immersive art activities) local with small businesses in your neighborhood. 

Want to add an easy way to keep your dollars local? Purchase Downtown Dollars from the Downtown Wabash, Inc. office (or online!) to spend at more than 30 businesses in the district! Treat them like cash but flex where you spend them.

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Holidays in Downtown Wabash: Home is where the heart is

Posted on by Adrianna Town

I never meant to move back to my hometown. I said the famous lines that most kids say at graduation, “I’ll never move back to this small town.” I left Wabash, Indiana at 18-years-old and headed straight for city life. Chicago was calling me! I packed up my bags and said goodbyes to my friends, family, and this small town, but waved hello to Lincoln Park, Chicago! 

Fast forward about 20 years and my story is very different. If you had asked my parents or even myself, we all thought I would never be back but only to visit! My college days in the big city were good to me and Chicago still has a huge place in my heart. I have many beautiful memories of the city and am grateful for all the experiences that season of life afforded me! 

However, my family and my connections in Wabash drew me back home.

For the last 15 years, I have made this area my home in this new season of life. It is no longer regarded as my ‘parents’’ home but mine.

I now have a husband of 14 years and two beautiful children who are eight and five-years-old. The Wabash Community, collided with family, friends and coworkers has forever changed and shaped my life. This town has so much to offer: from arts and culture and family-fun events; to date nights on the town and the ability to expand and grow professionally. There isn’t a part of this town that I don’t have a special memory associated with. 

Now, in the holiday season of Downtown Wabash, I’m sharing a remarkable memory of Downtown Wabash on a freezing December day. 

I grabbed my oldest son early from the Wabash Friends Church Daycare Center for a trip Downtown on Miami Street for the first-ever Rotary-Sponsored ice skating rink. In that Hallmark moment, we had Modoc’s hot chocolate, Christmas music playing and my son and I skating on the street in Downtown. My son still talks about this skating memory to this day. At that moment, my world stood still and I could experience that Hallmark moment with my son! That unforgettable memory was made possible by the community of Wabash.

I am in awe of the heart and vision of this town! My family makes a Christmas activity list, as they do most of the Hallmark Christmas movies, and luckily for us, Wabash helps us check off our list every year.

We have seen performances at the Honeywell Center, had our girl’s shopping trip among many small businesses in the Downtown District, checked out the Charley Creek Inn Wine & Cheese Bar, enjoyed the kids play area at the Wabash County Museum and had our weekly dose of espresso and hot chocolate from Modoc’s.

Wabash has the heart of a small town but the vigor, atmosphere and opportunities of a big city; take it from the girl who moved back from Chicago!

For me, the saying is true at least, “home is where the heart is,” or where your people are! I am and continue to be eternally grateful to all those who make this small town so special. The Green Family will continue to live out our Hallmark experiences here in Wabash with the people we love!