MainStreet Minute: December 2025

Light pole banners for Old-Fashioned Christmas

by Becca Eza, MainStreet Executive Director

MainStreet Minute: December 2025

It’s the holiday season, and there’s no better time to support the small businesses that make downtown T or C, and all of Sierra County, such a special place. Shopping locally keeps your dollars right here at home, strengthening our economy and supporting friends and neighbors. Thank you to everyone who took part in Small Business Saturday this year; nearly $10,000 in local receipts were submitted for our raffle. Let’s keep that momentum going - shop local throughout the season and beyond.

MainStreet T or C will host its final Wayfinding community input meetings on Tuesday, December 9, in the grotto (back room) of T or C Brewing Co., 410 N. Broadway. Sessions will be held at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., with a presentation of proposed sign designs and locations, followed by time for discussion and feedback. Since last fall, we’ve been working with New Mexico MainStreet to create a wayfinding plan- a coordinated system of signs that will help both pedestrians and drivers navigate to key destinations around town.

On Friday, December 12, head downtown for Old-Fashioned Christmas and the Parade of Lights! The evening begins at 6 p.m. with the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Evelyn Renfro Park, where you can enjoy a few carols and watch the city tree sparkle to life. The Parade of Lights starts at 6:30 p.m., traveling through downtown in the opposite direction of regular traffic. After the parade, stop by Healing Waters Plaza to visit Santa and explore the many downtown shops staying open late. Please note: downtown streets will close at 5 p.m., so plan ahead for parking.

There’s still time to enter the 2025 Parade of Lights! Register at https://tinyurl.com/2025-Parade-Registration. Light up your vehicle, bike, trailer, boat, or even just yourself, and join in the holiday fun.

If you’d like to learn more about MainStreet T or C or get involved as a volunteer, we’d love to hear from you. Stop by our office at 308 S. Pershing, visit our website at www.torcmainstreet.org, email us at director@torcmainstreet.org, or follow us on Facebook.