Past Stillwater holiday experiences inspire the creation of Merry Main Street

Making cookies, putting the angel on top of the Christmas tree and spending time

with family are some classic holiday traditions all throughout the United States.

Merry Main Street is looking to bring a new tradition to downtown Stillwater.

Combining hospitality, retail and entertainment, Merry Main Street will be spreading cheer this holiday season to all who attend.

Stillwater natives Alane Zannotti and Shannon Williams came up with the idea to

transform the town into a winter wonderland in October 2018. Since then, they have been

reflecting on their childhood holiday traditions in Stillwater.

“I can remember being a little girl and coming downtown with my family and

seeing the decorations above the downtown streets that were lit up and all the old tinsel,

which makes me think of this old fashioned Christmas,” Zannotti said. “There was

always the lighting of the Christmas tree, there was always the Christmas parade, but I

also remember that that was about it.”

In the past few years, downtown Stillwater has brought in an ice-skating rink as

well as the Polar Express. Neither has stuck around more than a year, which has left a

hole in downtown Stillwater when it comes to consistent holiday traditions.

“Everything was so festive and fun,” Williams said. “I remember the holiday

decorations the most, especially the tree suspended above the Main Street corridor. I

remember going to Katz with my family and shopping holiday sales.”

Block 34 will feature geodesic domes filled with multiple vendors to get people in

the holiday mood.

“We are passionate about downtown,” Zannotti said. “To us, that’s the heart of

the community, that’s where people gather. We just wanted to make sure there was

enough activity to keep people there for more than one event.”

Merry Main Street will be located at Block 34 in downtown Stillwater. The event

will feature activities for all ages including a beer garden, Cookies with Cops, live music,

food trucks and carriage rides.

“For us, we wanted to create that combination of what always happened, because

people love that, and creating something new which is the whole Block 34 experience,”

Zannotti said. “So by creating this traditional event, we’re hoping Merry Main Street will

be able to do all that.”

Written by Taylor Armstrong.