The City of Mesa has plenty to cheer about as its annual holiday extravaganza, Merry Main Street, snagged the prestigious Outstanding Special Event Award for large cities from the Arizona Parks and Recreation Association (APRA). Recognized for its charm and its ability to draw a crowd, Merry Main Street has become a fixture for the community and a significant contributor to Mesa's winter tourism and economy.
The six-week event features just about everything you'd want from a holiday festival minus the snow – free photos with Santa, a 40-foot Christmas tree, and an ice rink that claims the title as Arizona's largest outdoor one. The goal was to create a winter wonderland smack dab in the desert, and, well, they seem to have managed just to do that, attracting more than 190,000 visitors each season. According to a publication on Mesa Now, the city's Special Events team is the muscle behind the festivities, going all-out to provide a mixture of multi-cultural celebrations and live entertainment alongside other family-friendly activities.
This accolade serves as a nod to the event's growing popularity and impact, which has been a source of pride for the community. Mesa Mayor Mark Freeman couldn't hide his delight over the recognition. "I've had the privilege of attending Merry Main Street year after year, and it's been incredible to see how it continues to grow and get better every season. Winning this award from APRA is a great honor for the event and a well-deserved recognition of our Special Events team, who put in countless hours to make Merry Main Street and all of Mesa's major events something our community can be proud of," Mesa Now reported him saying.
Mark your calendars for the return of this award-winning festival, commencing on November 28 with the tree lighting ceremony and Santa's much-anticipated grand arrival. To keep fully updated, visitors and locals can head to the event's website at merrymainst.com, as the celebration rolls on through January 10.
