Watertown's Winter Wonderland event is designed to encourage shoppers to think about Watertown first when making holiday purchases. “We encourage people to check out the businesses and see what they do have,” said Main Street Manager Susan Dascenzo. “I think they will be pleasantly surprised at the variety of goods and services Watertown has to offer.

To encourage shoppers into the stores, there is a “Where on Main Street is the Chamber Ornament” contest. Visit 12 businesses and find the blue chamber ornament hidden in each business. Complete the entry blank available at participating businesses for a chance to win gift cards and gift certificates from local businesses. The contest begins on Monday November 21 and ends on Saturday November 26.

The Gingerbread house contest has entries placed in various businesses in the downtown. Businesses with gingerbread houses include: Far Horizons Imports, The Health Nut, Alpha Life, Brown Shoe Fit Company, Juhl Photography, Generation Jewelers, Tribeca Gallery, Café and Books, Keck Furniture, Mullen’s Dairy Bar, Sandra D’s Bridal Boutique, and the Watertown Public Library.

Get ready for the Holiday Parade of Lights by attending the Community Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony at 5:00 pm on November 26 at the Downtown Plaza located on the east side of the Main Street bridge. The Watertown High School Carolers will be getting everyone in the Christmas spirit with a selection of seasonal music at 4:45 pm. The Holiday Parade of Lights begins at 5:30 pm. After the parade, Santa will be in his house at the Downtown Plaza until 7:30 pm.

The Watertown Main Street Program hosted the 2011 Wisconsin Main Street Awards ceremony at Turner Hall on April 29. More than 200 people attended the event which showcases the standout projects and events that take place in Wisconsin’s 36 Main Street communities.

Watertown winners included Wes and Julie Crnkovich, owners of Tribeca GalleryCafe & Books, who took home the award as for best interior renovation. The Crnkovich’s were co-winners in this category with Dockside Deli in Port Washington. Watertown Main Street Board President Sandra Budewitz was honored as the local Board Member of the Year and Design Committee member Peg Theder was named Volunteer of the Year. Watertown Main Street Program Director Susan Dascenzo also was honored for five years of service to the organization

As a special honor, the late Palmer Draeger, who served on the Watertown Main Street Board for a several years, was inducted into the Wisconsin Main Street Program Hall of Fame. His induction was inspired by the many years of service he dedicated to the Watertown Main Street Program and for his unwavering dedication to downtown Watertown. His wife, Judy Draeger, accepted the award on his behalf.

In April 2011, Watertown Main Street will celebrate its 11th anniversary. Over the past decade, the Main Street Program has worked hard to make Downtown Watertown a vibrant shopping and dining district that our community and visitors can enjoy. The Watertown Main Street Program Board of Directors, staff and volunteers take a great deal of pride in our accomplishments – many of which are ongoing throughout the year. Highlights since the program’s inception in 2000 include:
• Provided more than 20 drawings for building owners in the downtown area. The value of those drawings is approximately $2,000/drawing.
• Provided business planning assistance to new business
• Building façade grants to downtown business owners of $80,000.
• Planned events like Fall Festival, Maxwell Street Days, and Street Dance
• Oversee the Banner Over Main Street Program
• Maintains the tourism kiosk in the Riverwalk Plaza
• Plant and maintain flowers containers on Main Street
• Received recognition from the Wisconsin Main Street Program for the upper floor restoration of 116 W Main Street.
• Produce a monthly cable TV show “What’s Up Downtown” that highlights downtown business
• Completed phase one of Main Street improvements that include trash receptacles, banners and benches.
• City of Watertown benefits from reinvestment in the downtown through the tax base

The Main Street Board recently completed a work planning session with the State Main Street staff. This session helped the organization identify projects for the next two years. Some of our plans include:
• Publishing a downtown shopping and dining guide
• Complete a list of available properties for rent or purchase
• Organize a downtown clean-up day
• Update the “Guide to Watertown Architecture:
• Write design guidelines for the downtown commercial district
• Finish downtown streetscape project by landscaping plaza, purchasing an additional set of banners, and purchasing additional benches and trash receptacles
• Continue work on redeveloping downtown property
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Please call or email Susan at the Main Street office if you would like additional information.