[OMS_MANAGERS] Downtown Update - December 2025 Newsletter Corrected Edition

[La Grande Main Street Downtown]

Email from La Grande Main Street Downtown December 2025 Newsletter Corrected Edition LA GRANDE MAIN STREET DOWNTOWN About Us Support Our Mission Hello OMS, It is now officially Holiday Season! The Monkeys On The Run Holiday Parade of Lights was just amazing with a dazzling array of floats, lighted motor vehicles of all sizes and shapes, and walkers strolling along. Plaid Friday and Small Business Saturday brought folks to downtown La Grande, eagerly taking in the special events and sales on offer from our local merchants. December began with the Women in Business Holiday Party, which brought together local entrepreneurs for an evening of networking, shared food and festive celebration that highlighted connection and seasonal spirit. Next up, the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop on December 31st will usher in 2026 and another delightful year in Lovely La Grande!   New Year’s Eve Ball Drop in Downtown La Grande La Grande Main Street Downtown invites the community to close out 2025 with a festive gathering in the heart of downtown. The award-winning New Year’s Eve Ball Drop will take place on Wednesday, December 31 at Adams Avenue and Depot Street beginning at 10 PM, with the ball drop scheduled for midnight. This all-ages event offers a welcoming space to celebrate together, featuring complimentary hot chocolate and burn barrels to help guests stay warm. The evening will be broadcast live by EOAlive.TV, allowing those at home to join in the countdown. Sponsored by Monkeys on the Run, the event continues a growing tradition of community celebration and connection. Whether you're coming for the cocoa, the company, or the countdown, Downtown La Grande is the place to be as we ring in 2026. Supporting Small Businesses Through the Amex Shop Small Grants Program La Grande Main Street Downtown is pleased to share exciting news for our local business community. As a Main Street America affiliate, we are proud to announce that Main Street America and American Express® have partnered to launch the Amex Shop Small Grants Program, designed to provide meaningful support to small businesses across the country. Through this initiative, eligible business owners may apply for grants of $20,000 to help grow and strengthen their operations. Applications are now open and will be accepted through Friday, January 16, 2026. In addition to the grant opportunity, American Express is further supporting the program by donating $1 to the grant fund each time an eligible American Express Card is used at a qualifying small business today. We encourage our downtown business owners to explore this opportunity and submit applications. Bringing these funds to La Grande would not only help individual businesses innovate and expand, but also contribute to the vitality and resilience of our entire community. For full details and to check eligibility, please visit: mainstreet.org/shopsmallgrant. Revisiting the Monkeys On The Run Holiday Parade of Lights The Monkeys on the Run Holiday Parade of Lights lit up downtown La Grande on Friday, November 28, drawing families, friends, and visitors to Adams Avenue for one of the community’s most cherished traditions. Beginning at Hemlock Street and moving west toward Max Square, the parade featured floats, ATVs, trucks, and walking groups decked out in festive lights, all celebrating this year’s theme of “Shop Local.” Awards donated by WS Custom Engraving were presented for standout entries, including: Christmas Star Award (Best Business Entry): Goss Motors Star Volunteers (Best Organization/Group): Blue Mountain Humane Association Tin Soldier Award (Best Marching/Walking): Lighthouse Church Winners Circle WS Customs Award: Grande Ronde Mobile Tire Best Motorized Sleigh: Wicked Inflatables The evening culminated at Max Square with the lighting of the community holiday tree provided by Scott Allen with the tree installed by OTEC. Max Square was done up in seasonal finery by the folks at Ziply for the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus, who greeted children and handed out candy canes. Brent Clapp emceed the celebration, leading the crowd in a joyful Christmas carol sing-along, while downtown businesses and groups added to the festive atmosphere with cocoa provided by Evermine Labels, cocoa and cookies from Community Kindness of Eastern Oregon, and food from Becky’s Burger Wagon. With glowing floats, smiling faces, and a strong sense of community, the parade once again showcased La Grande’s holiday spirit and the power of neighbors coming together to celebrate the season. Here are some pictures so you can relive the fun! Promotion Committee The Promotion Committee met on December 3 to review recent and upcoming events. The meeting began with an overview of the Monkeys On The Run Parade of Lights and Plaid Friday/Small Business Saturday. The parade was celebrated as a great success, and members shared ideas for making it even stronger in the future. Discussion also focused on how Plaid Friday and Small Business Saturday could have a greater impact, including a suggestion to expand on the materials provided by American Express so more businesses could benefit from promotional items. Planning then turned to the upcoming New Year’s Eve Ball Drop, with Thomas Taylor and Eric Laurence volunteering to lead the effort. Committee members took on specific tasks to support the event, and attention shifted to the 2026 work plan, which outlines timelines for each activity. Early emphasis will be placed on the Shamrock Shuffle on March 14th with registration starting on January 1st, and members also explored possibilities for new events tied to other holidays throughout the year. December Activities at Cook Memorial Library The library will be closed on the following holidays: closing at 2 pm on Wednesday, December 24, all day Thursday, December 25, and all day Thursday, January 1. Mail your letter to Santa at the library! Include a return address and you might receive a response from Santa himself. Please mail letters before December 19 to ensure a response. No stamp necessary. Please put the letter in the designated book drop outside the library’s Fourth Street entrance. Storytime is Thursdays, December 4, 11, 18 at 10:30 am in the Story Circle. Join us for songs, stories, and crafts. Cook Memorial Library and the Autism Society of Oregon presents Sensory Friendly Santa visits! From 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm on Friday, December 5, make a 10-minute appointment to visit Santa in the Community Room. (Appointments are required.) Visit our website to book an appointment. This event is to celebrate all individuals with a variety of sensory preferences and is designed to accommodate all individuals, including those who require a quieter and more sensory-friendly environment. Need a quiet place to wrap gifts? Bring your gifts and wrapping paper to the library for Wrapping Saturdays on December 6, 13, and 20 from 9 am to 2 pm. Tape and scissors provided. Mysteries ‘n’ More Book Club meets Friday, December 12 at 1:00 pm. The club will discuss “Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries” by Heather Fawcett. New members welcome. This book club meets the second Friday of each month. Join us at 10:00 am on Saturday, December 13, in the Library Community Room for our annual Santa Storytime. We’ll sing Christmas songs, read Christmas stories, and do a few Christmas crafts. Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive at around 10:15 am to meet all the children! Each child will have a chance to meet our guests, sit on their laps, take photos, etc. This is not a drop-in event. Santa and Mrs. Claus will stay until all children have left. Join us in the Community Room for popcorn and a family movie on Friday, December 19 at 3:00 pm. We’ll be watching Home Alone, which is rated PG. Water cups will be provided, but personal water bottles are highly encouraged. All ages are welcome and children under the age of 10 must be accompanied by an adult the entire duration of the film. We are able to show this film through a Swank license. Spells & Stars Book Club meets Saturday, December 20 at 3:00 pm to discuss, “Small Favors,” by Erin Craig. New members welcome. This book club meets the third Saturday of the month. Visit our StoryWalk© at Riverside Park along the Greenway and the Linda Elegant Memorial StoryWalk© at Birnie Park. Books are changed monthly and are sponsored by local individuals, families, and businesses. Discover and Go: Cultural Passes are available with a library card. Free passes are available for the Children’s Museum of Eastern Oregon, OMSI, the Columbia Gorge Museum, and more! See the link from the library’s webpage. Provided by the Libraries of Eastern Oregon. Get weekly updates on events, the latest additions to our collections, and more with our newsletter through Wowbrary. Visit wowbrary.org to sign up. All library activities are free and held at Cook Memorial Library at 2006 4th Street in La Grande, unless otherwise noted. Visit CookMemorialLibrary.org, follow the library’s social media pages, or call 541-962-1339 for details. We're always looking for volunteers! Give back to your community through work on one of our main committees (Promotion, Design, Economic Vitality, or Outreach) or help downtown clean up, or a specific event! Click HERE to see all the different opportunities Interested in being a Partner? Learn more about our impact in the community and our available partnership levels on our website here. LGMSD Partners Ad Dad Allied Mortgage - a division of Mann Mortgage LLC Anderson Perry Associated Design and Engineering BELLA Mercantile Benchwarmers Pub & Grill Birddog Glass Blue Summit Realty Blue Mountain Outfitters Brent Clapp Media Cam Credits Carol Summers Christ Church of La Grande City of La Grande Clanktronix/The Archives Claudson's Sew and Soak Community Kindness of Eastern Oregon Community Merchants Connected Professional Accountants LLC Country Financial, Paul Swigert Designs By Stef Direct Music Source Dirty Girls Detailing Edge Home Finance - Team Klebaum Edward Jones - Shawn Mangum Eastern Oregon University Eleven Fifteen Salon Elkhorn Media Group Evermine Labels Fairway Independent Mortgage Fit Fuel LG Fitzgerald Flowers Flying Cloud Gifts Grande Ronde Hospital Guyer and Associates JC Woodworks K Voelz Wines La Grande Theatres Les Schwab Tire Center Longbranch Lucy's Boutiques at the Market Place Underground Mary Ann and Arlan Miesner Merlyn's Catering MJ Goss Motors Monkeys On The Run Mountain Valley Therapy Mountain Works Nate Conklin State Farm Nature's Pantry Nicole Haggerty Northwest Furniture & Mattress OTEC Peak Lifestyle Studio Perky's Play Cafe Raul's Taqueria RE/MAX Real Estate Team Rob's Speedy Delivery Rosewood Cottage Scott's Heating and Air Side A Brewing Spokane Teachers Credit Union Sure Shot Virtual Range Sorbenots Tap That! Growlers, LLC The Potter's House The Royal Clothiers Timothy Bishop Travelodge Union County Chamber of Commerce/Tourism United Finance Wheatland Insurance Williamson Insurance Yuri Books ​Ziply Fiber   Upcoming Events   Contact Us     Share This Email Share This Email Share This Email About Events Calendar Projects Contact La Grande Main Street Downtown | 102 Depot St | La Grande, OR 97850 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice
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