There’s GREATER Shopping in Downtown St. Cloud

St. Cloud is a GREAT place to call home. Not only are there ample work opportunities and an affordable cost of living, but when it comes to play, there are hundreds of options right outside your door.

GREATER Shopping

Downtown St. Cloud features more than 60 retail shops – many of which are locally owned businesses. Whether you’re looking for a trendy local shop to browse unique children’s wear, a trusted place to find outdoor sports equipment, a relaxing atmosphere to unwind and get a GREAT new do, or even a generations-old local business that can help you build or remodel your home, you can find all this and more in Downtown St. Cloud. And did we mention the antique stores, game shops, and art galleries? There are tons of options! For a complete list, click here.

GREATER Eats and Treats

Not only does Downtown St. Cloud offer a wide array of shops, but it also boasts a huge variety of eating establishments – more than 55, just to give you an idea. Whether you’re in the mood for some Irish fare, something sweet, classic pizza, delicious Indian food, or simply burgers and beers,  you’ll find it all Downtown. For a full list of Downtown dining options, click here.


Beyond food and shopping, Downtown St. Cloud offers even more. Over 500 businesses and more than 70 historic buildings call Downtown St. Cloud home and they’re all within walking distance. Thanks to these wonderful businesses and many more, St. Cloud enjoys a healthy economy.

No matter what your interests, you’ll find something to love about St. Cloud, which is just one of many reasons that we think it’s a GREATER place to live!

Don’t Miss Out On Small Business Saturday

With Thanksgiving approaching fast, people are starting to get ready for the shopping spree that follows. Although Black Friday and Cyber Monday are seen as the biggest shopping events, Small Business Saturday is also a great day to shop deals. Small Business Saturday offers people a great chance to get out and explore some of the small businesses in their area, which usually aren’t destinations on Black Friday, as the major retailers draw most of the shoppers.

Last year, 88 million people took part in Small Business Saturday, and this year it could draw even more. This year’s Small Business Saturday will take place on Saturday, November 28th - the day after Black Friday.

    

You have the opportunity win great prizes by taking part in Small Business Saturday. All you have to do is use #ShopSmallSTC on Facebook and Twitter to share where you are shopping during the day. People who use the #ShopSmallSTC hashtag will automatically be entered to win great prizes from a variety of local businesses in the St. Cloud Area.

Winners will be randomly selected following the event on Monday, November 30th. If you win a prize, you will be notified by a private Facebook message or a direct message on Twitter, which will inform you as to which prize you won and how you can go about claiming it.

This is a great opportunity not only for yourself but also for your community. By shopping on Small Business Saturday, you can help the small businesses of St. Cloud grow and thrive as the money people spend stays in the community rather than going to huge corporations. So get up, get out, and shop local on Small Business Saturday - and don’t forget to share your experience on Facebook and Twitter using #ShopSmallSTC.

Downtown St. Cloud: Winter Nights & Lights

“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear!” - Buddy, The Elf.

Get into the holiday spirit this Christmas season with the GREAT activities held right here in St. Cloud, MN. This weekend kicks off the 14th annual Winter Nights & Lights celebration, brought to you by The Downtown Council.

Friday, December 12: St. Cloud Weihnachtsmarkt

The festivities begin on Friday, December 12th with the St. Cloud Weihnachtsmarkt from 5:00pm - 9:00pm. This event will feature holiday gifts from the Paramount Gallery, German food & drinks, including the seasonal treat Gluhwein (a.k.a hot mulled wine), a brass brand, and more! Enjoy German novelties, a cup of hot chocolate or apple cider & join in on the 2014 Weihnachtsmarkt celebration. A heated holiday tent will be located at the World Heritage Corner, 525 St. Germain Street, next to St. Cloud Floral in downtown St. Cloud.

German Christmas Market in downtown St. Cloud

Saturday, December 13: Winter Wonderland
Don’t let the fun come to an end, continue your holiday celebrations on Saturday, December 13. Kick start the afternoon with family and friends at Winter Wonderful from 1:00pm - 4:00pm at the beautiful Lake George. Santa and Mrs. Claus have taken time out of their busy schedules to come and see YOU! With a variety of activities, there will be fun for everyone. Enjoy photos with Santa, arts and crafts, cookie decorating, sleigh rides, and more!


Winter Wonderland: $3.00/child OR $5.00/family
*Receive $1.00 off admission if you bring an item for the food shelf. 

For more information, visit www.ci.stcloud.mn.us or call (320) 257-5959. 

Winter activities for the entire family.

Saturday, December 13: Holiday Shopping & Dining

Don’t fret, the holidays aren’t quite here… you still have plenty of time to get all of your holiday shopping taken care of. From 10am - 6pm, enjoy the downtown shopping and dining scene. Great deals, specials, and holiday discounts, all in downtown St. Cloud. Fill up on delicious food, shop ‘til you drop… or until the Nights & Lights parade begins!


Saturday, December 13: Winter Nights & Lights Parade

Celebrating the 14th annual Winter Nights & Lights Parade, brought to you by Capitol One 360. West St. Germain Street in downtown St. Cloud will be illuminated with holiday floats and festive holiday music. Bundle up, and join the community as they experience the old-fashioned holiday spirit of a winter parade.

The parade will begin at 5:00pm, so cozy up, bring some hot chocolate & spread holiday cheer this Saturday evening! It's going to be a GREAT time, we hope to see you there! 

Shop Local, Shop Small, Shop "Small Business Saturday!"

‘Tis the season… the season of giving. Each year, we celebrate Thanksgiving amongst family and friends, giving thanks to one another for the blessings we have in our lives. Tied closely to Thanksgiving is, of course, one of the busiest shopping weekends of the entire year. 

Thanksgiving generally involves food, family, football… and finding the best shopping deals by paging through store ads from the newspaper. The shopping craze kicks-off with Black Friday, the day following Thanksgiving.

This holiday season, don’t just get caught up in the savings the chain superstores are trying to sell you. Instead, consider shopping local and supporting your community. The Saturday following Thanksgiving, November 29th, celebrates the fifth-annual Small Business Saturday.

Shop local, shop small, shop Small Business Saturday.

Shop Small is a nation-wide movement encouraging people to support their neighbors and shop at small businesses. Millions of individuals, businesses, and communities have embraced this profound shopping ‘holiday.’

When you shop local, a greater percentage of the money spent actually stays in your community.

How can you participate?

Simple! There are a ton of ways that you can support small businesses that are local to you. The St. Cloud area has many options and ways to get involved. Whether you decide to go shopping at the many local stores, shops, and boutiques, or grab a post-shopping meal at a locally-owned restaurant or bistro, be sure to share the day with your family and friends.

When you shop small, it can lead to big things. #ShopSmall and support your neighborhood and community!