Organizers of the 2025 “Christmas in the Burg” said expectations are high for a record-setting turnout.
The annual, one-day event – celebrating the holiday and community – is Dec. 13.
Vicksburg Village Manager Jim Mallery said a noteworthy tidbit about “Christmas in the Burg” centers on its positive financial effect.
“Regarding direct impact on our retail businesses, we’ve calculated well over $100,000 as an impact to our stores and restaurants, and the exposure they get with follow-up visits,” Mallery said. “It is just an incredible day to celebrate the holiday season in Vicksburg.”
He said roughly 12,000 people are in the village over the course of the daylong events and activities offered through the event, ending with the evening parade and tree-lighting ceremony downtown.
Mallery said the village is fortunate to have the right people in the right place to make the event such a success. He acknowledged the village’s Department of Public Works, whose members put in long hours in advance and on the day of the event.
“It’s a wonderful team with strong enthusiasm and energy … they’re absolutely ambassadors for the village with their positive attitude and their performance,” Mallery said. “And credit to our Police Department. It’s all hands on deck, as we have our reserve officers out there as well as mutual aid from other departments assisting.”
Christmas in the ‘Burg has been around for more than a decade, but Mallery said it has picked up steam over the past four to five years. Participation has increased by nearly 40 percent since 2020.
Activities start at noon and include a craft show, winter farmers’ market, Santa’s mailbox and Santa’s tent, manger animals, a Jolly Trolley, carolers, Kalamazoo Husky Club, horse-wagon rides, tractor hayrides, and a pancake and sausage dinner.
The showcase event, however, is the parade. It starts at 6 p.m. and is scheduled to run two hours. The route begins at Kalamazoo Street, turns left onto Prairie Street, left onto Main Street and left again onto South Street.
The tree-lighting ceremony is at 8 p.m. at Oswalt Park.
Mallery said Christmas Card Lane returns once again to Vicksburg Historic Village.
“And don’t forget the introduction of ‘Burg Bucks this year, another great promotion to help shine a light on Vicksburg businesses,” Mallery said. “We’ll have downtown blocked off so everything is walkable, the stores will be open and inviting everyone to stop in.”
More information is available online at downtown.vicksburgmi.org.
