Top 11 tips for a remarkable Holly Days: Cool Car…No Boundaries

Nov 29, 2018

‘Tis the season to be jolly! In this month’s Valpo blog, Cool Car…No Boundaries, you’ll learn the top 11 tips for a remarkable Holly Days event in Downtown Valparaiso. You’ll meet Holly Days event organizer Tina St. Aubin. Tina gives you an inside look at what magic goes into creating this special Christmas event. You’ll drive with Tina in a 2019 Chrysler Pacifica as she gives you a VIP tour of Northwest Indiana’s best Christmas event of the year. So, shake up your Christmas snow globe and look closely, because you’re about to learn the Top 11 tips for a remarkable Holly Days…with no Boundaries. Let’s roll.

Valpo’s Holly Days is a family event that reminds you of a great Christmas movie on the Hallmark Channel

When it comes to having family fun and Christmas, you just don’t get any better then Downtown Valparaiso’s Holly Day’s. On this night, Valpo’s quaint downtown is adorned with decorated window displays, illuminated trees line the streets and a 40 foot Christmas Tree becomes centerpiece to ice-skating in Central Park… and kids from one to ninety-nine serenade you to wonderful Christmas Carols.

When it comes to creating a wonderful Christmas experience, Holly Days is the place for Christmas magic.

How does such a magical event as Holly Days happen? If you believe in Santa Claus, you just might believe a bunch of Elves visited from the North Pole and sprinkled Christmas dust on the downtown. Perhaps an angel is sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated Jimmy Stewart by showing him what life would have been like if he had never existed. Although Santa might be able to deliver gifts to children around the world in a single night…not even Rudolph could persuade Santa from calling off Christmas with the blizzard of tasks and responsibilities that go into organizing Holly Days.

So who is behind the magic of Valpo’s Christmas wonderland? Meet Tina St. Aubin. Tina and her remarkable team at Valpo Events are responsible for all the cool events at Valpo’s Central Park Amphitheatre, Urschel Pavilion and around Valpo’s historic downtown district.

This is the team that puts together all of our wonderful downtown events, which include the Popcorn Festival, Chocolate Walk, Fall Harvest Festival, outdoor movies,and the Grieger’s sponsored Summer-Rhapsody Music Festival….and who could forget Valpo’s Brewfest and the Valparaiso Wine Festival. Folks, nobody can appreciate what an insanely tough job it is to run these events. Why would anyone want to take on the insurmountable task of entertaining a town 12 months a year?

It’s a Wonderful Life

Tina is a Valpo girl. It takes a Valpo girl to garner the sponsorships necessary to host such elaborate events. Only a Valpo girl can understand the politics of partnering city, county and business. It takes a Valpo girl to understand what makes an event work and it takes a Valpo girl to love a city enough to persevere through the challenges of pleasing the masses.

Tina is a Valpo girl and she loves her hometown. Her perseverance is driven by her desire to make Valpo a special place…a wonderful place to live.

So, without further ado, lets meet Tina St Aubin as she drives a Chrysler Pacifica Touring around downtown Valpo and shares her tips on how you can have a Christmas Holly Days you and your family will never forget.

Valpo’s a special place, and this night just might be the single night that captures the essence of a community that has one foot in its storied past and one foot in a wonderful future.

A night of Christmas magic in Downtown Valparaiso!

All of your favorite holiday activities will come together to turn our little town into a true, winter wonderland as we kick off the holiday season.

Stroll through the decorated streets, visit your favorite shops and dine at one of the unique restaurants during their holiday open houses.

Top 11 tips for a remarkable Christmas Holly Days

11. Live Nativity

The entire community is invited to experience the true meaning of the Christmas season with the live nativity scene. Courthouse Square

“Isn’t there anyone that knows what Christmas is about?” – A Charlie Brown Christmas

10. Live Ice Carving

Cool as ice, ice baby! You won’t want to miss this WOW factor to the Valpo’s Downtown Christmas celebration. Central Park Plaza

9. Complimentary Tapa & Live Music. Don Quijote Restaurante

Warm up with a complimentary Spanish Tapa (soup) at Restaurante Don Quijote. Celebrate Christmas, or Navidad with live music and warm smiles. Chef Carlos invites you to celebrate as the Spanish do…. with happiness, joy and family harmony. Don Quijote on Lincolnway

Don Quijote and Griegers charitable drive

8. LED Jugglers

Light up your Holly Days with electrifying L.E.D. performances! Where world class juggling talent meets advanced L.E.D. technology. Central Park Plaza

7. Ice-Skating next to the giant Christmas Tree

Elf certified fun! The joy and happiness will warm your heart. With skating from 5 p.m.-10 p.m., the celebration keeps going. Learn more by clicking Valpo Parks & Recreation. Central Park Plaza

6. Chestnuts Roasting over an Open Fire. Pikk’s Tavern

Master Chef, Paul LoDuca brings back his annual tradition of grilling chestnuts in front of his Chicago style Tavern. Perhaps Valpo’s most innovative cuisine offered feet away from Central Park’s ice-skating and Christmas Tree. Pikk’s Tavern also has beer, wine and Christmas cocktails to warm your spirits. This popular activity earned top votes from Tina St. Aubin and Don Quijote’s, Elena Jambrina. High praise, indeed! Pikk’s Tavern on Lincolnway

5. Fire Performers

Epic fire show! Bring a touch of magic to your Holly Days Christmas celebration. You’ll experience the most stunning fire performance for a lasting Christmas memory! Central Park Plaza.

4. Train Rides

Cool Train…No Boundaries. The Griegers sponsored family activity is fun for the family and a great photo for the Christmas card. Courthouse Square.

3. Live Stage Entertainment, Giveaways and More!

The perfect Christmas scene. Live entertainment, Christmas music and free giveaways. It’s like a real life Christmas Card! Central Park Plaza

2. Interactive Valpo Christmas from 100 years ago. Poco Muse – Museum

“You’ll go down in history” The Museum missed making our top pick by a red nose! You’ll experience what Christmas was like 100 years ago in Valpo…the Museum’s most ambitious exhibit in History! Poco Muse‘s first ever interactive exhibit . Imagine the old Jail Sheriff’s home as it was during Christmas during WWI. You’ll be engaged as you experience what Christmas was like when a County Responded to the First World War. BONUS! Every visitor during HollyDays will receive a homemade cookie created from a local WWI-era recipe. Old Jail Museum (Indiana & Franklin)

1. Downtown Valpo’s Open House at Restaurants and Businesses

Downtown Valpo’s Open House has been a beloved holiday tradition for years. Each year, holiday memories are made and traditions are created. No other event captures the spirit of Christmas better than our #1 tip for a remarkable Holly Days!

It goes without question that no one can do Christmas quite like Downtown Valpo. The picturesque windows are thoughtfully decorated and will have you stopping in your footsteps. The trees along Lincolnway are illuminated as strolling Christmas carolers spread Christmas cheer. Chefs, business owners and staff welcome the community with all kinds of complimentary treats, food and drinks.

Guaranteed to warm your heart and jump start your Christmas Spirit. Nothing beats Christmas time in the city of Valparaiso.

“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear” -Elf (aka- Will Ferrell)

OK….so there’s your Top 11 Tips for a remarkable Christmas Holly Days, but as you know, getting there is half the fun! This month’s featured review was the Chrysler Pacifica Touring “L Plus”. The future-ready Pacifica has everything you need for your Christmas travel–luxury, comfort, safety, style, performance and style. But when it comes to knowing how to put a smile on someone’s face, nobody has more expertise than this month’s featured guest, Tina St. Aubin. Tina is more than just the organizer of countless family activities in Valparaiso’s Historic Downtown District…she’s a Mom!

Tina’s Review of the 2019 Chrysler Pacifica

Tina St. Aubin knows a thing or two about Cool Cars, she’s had a few. Her resounding thumbs-up for the 2019 Chrysler Pacifica makes it the “Cool Car…No Boundaries” top pick for Christmas travel. With cool styling, sporty performance, digital climate control for passengers, Apple-Play and stowaway seating, Tina was impressed by the 2019 Chrysler Pacifica Touring “L Plus”.

As you might have noticed from our interview video with Tina (see above), Justin Carlson, Grieger’s Digital Manager, is a huge fan of the digital technology found on the next-generation minivan. Hmmm! Go figure. According to Justin, “Every trim level now comes standard with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, blind spot monitoring and rear parking sensors with an automatic emergency stop function. All of the Pacifica’s in Griegers inventory come with at least a 7-inch touchscreen.”

Tina’s review came with one complaint. Why didn’t they put such wonderful innovations on her last Chrysler Minivan? Because technology moves pretty fast, and so does the Pacifica.

Check out this video and see for yourself why we selected the Chrysler Pacifica our “Top Pick for Remarkable Christmas travel.”

According to FCA, the Chrysler Pacifica was named Family Car of the Year for 2018 by Cars.com and praised as an IIHS Top Safety Pick in 2018 when equipped with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights. The accolades continue, the 2018 Chrysler Pacifica was again named a “Best Buy” by Consumer’s Digest. Certainly, an award-winning family vehicle should come with an award-winning dealership. Grieger’s Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram has been named Northwest Indiana’s Customer First Award for 2017 and 2018.

According to Justin, Griegers ordered additional Chrysler Pacificas as this month’s featured Christmas vehicle. Combined with “BIG FINISH” incentives throughout the month, it might be a wonderful time to surprise the family and make it a Christmas to remember.

To learn more about the Chrysler Pacifica, or discuss current “BIG FINISH EVENT” incentives, Justin welcomes you to contact him personally or shop on-line. For convenient in-home shopping, visit Griegers Official Site -or- the Chrysler Official Site. Griegers Motors is family owned Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram dealership located on US 30 in Valparaiso.

More Reading:

Cool Car….No Boundaries. Your Blog for Fun things to do in Northwest Indiana.

Valpo Events Official Page

There you have it, folks. Top 11 tips for a remarkable Holly Days: Cool Car…No Boundaries and our Top Pick for Remarkable Christmas travel…. the 2019 Chrysler Pacifica.

By Jim Jano Janesheski

Tags: 11Tips for a Remarkable Holly Days, Big Finish Event, Christmas in Downtown Valparaiso, Chrysler, Chrysler Pacifica, Dodge, Downtown Restaurants, Holly Days, Jeep, Poco MUse, Ram, Tina St. Aubin, Valpo Events, Valpo Restaurants
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