Starry Starry Night boosts economy, culture in Grand Marais

What's happening: One of the largest Black Friday events in the Upper Peninsula comes from one of its smallest communities: Grand Marais. The town hosted its annual Starry Starry Night event on November 24. The event opens the majority of the businesses in the small tourist and outdoors town located on the eastern end of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, providing both an economic boost and some fun for area families.

What is Starry Starry Night: Originating some 25 years ago, the event provides a kickstart to the holiday shopping season. Grand Marais’s numerous art galleries, snowmobile shops, stores and restaurants provide opportunities to experience the downtown in early winter before a Christmas light parade and caroling by the local choir. Most hotels are also open and provide space in the lobby for non-profit groups, sled dog race teams and other vendors to set up shop to round out the event. The many benefits include starting holiday shopping with a local focus, providing extra activities in the Grand Marais area over Thanksgiving weekend and rallying the community before the start of the winter tourism season. 
 
What they're saying: “It's one of the big events for us throughout the year,” said Toni Whaley, who owns Grand Marais Mercantile and helps organize Starry Starry Night. “We want to make sure that our retailers, our crafters, our artists — as well as our wonderful restaurants — have plenty of people that come and enjoy what we have to offer.”  

What's next: To help expand on Starry Starry Night, there will be more events planned for next year, including some that will be focused on children and possibly a live nativity scene.