Valentine's Day is approaching and it's the perfect time to fall in love with Main Street. All over the country, Main Street programs are planning special Valentine's Day promotions to attract the lover in all of us. Visit a Main Street near you and you'll most likely find sweet treats, wine tastings, special gifts for your sweetheart, and Valentine's Day events ranging from lovers' lanes and speed dating to chocolate walks and movie nights. Here are just a few examples of what Main Street communities are planning this year.
Once called the “Magic City,” the small Northwoods community of Tomahawk, Wisconsin, began as a celebrated logging town 125 years ago and is known for the wide downtown streets built by founder William Bradley. Couples have married on this Main Street during Tomahawk’s popular Fourth of July Parade and in Harley-gear during the Fall Ride for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Magic – and love - will once again be in the air during the week of Valentine’s Day, February 7-14, as lovers stroll through the historic downtown, which will be transformed into a “Lovers’ Lane” by Tomahawk Main Street and downtown merchants who'll “roll out the red carpet” and offer red-hot promotions and sales.
A highlight of Lovers’ Lane will be the “Lovers’ Lane Wedding Chapel,” held Saturday, February 11 from 1-4 p.m. at Northwoods Bridal. Couples are invited to share “wedding vows” with the Lovers’ Lane official, Pastor Allen Christensen of Tomahawk United Methodist Church. Christensen invites newly engaged couples to come practice their wedding vows, married couples to come renew their vows, and singles playing a “In the Speed Lovers’ Lane” event next door the same day to “get married,” on a whim.
“This is all in fun, of course, celebrating the day of love in Tomahawk-style,” says Tomahawk Main Street Executive Director Liz Milender, who points out that the ceremony is not legally binding. Those who wish to be married in the Lovers’ Lane Wedding Chapel will need to make at Northwoods Bridal. The boutique carries top designers such as Alfred Angelo, elegant options for mother-of-the-bride and tuxedo rentals in addition to personalized service. Night Shift Entertainment will provide the wedding music. While reservations are required, there is no charge, although donations of non-perishable food to the Tomahawk Emergency Food Pantry or cash donations to Tomahawk Main Street are accepted.
During Lovers’ Lane Wedding Chapel hours, Ike’s Café, located next door, will hold two speed dating events for singles under and over 30 years of age, hoping to ignite new sparks of love. "In the Speed Lovers’ Lane" is a limited seating event, costs $10 per person and includes complimentary beer, soda, and appetizers.
Each Lovers’ Lane Wedding Chapel couple will be pampered with a “Lovers’ Loot” complimentary gift bag of amenities, gifts, and coupons, all from downtown merchants. Some of the Lovers’ Loot gifts include a pink heart-shaped bath bomb from The Brown Barn Bath Company, a chocolate heart-shaped fudge lollipop from What’s Brewin’, and a long-stemmed red rose for the bride and a boutonniere for the groom from The Scarlet Garden.
Each couple will also be entered in a drawing to win an array of Valentine’s Day-themed gifts, such as a large heart-shaped pizza from Bambino’s Pizza & Grill; a $50 gift certificate from Northwoods Bridal; a purple Crystal Bezel stainless steel necklace with a chocolate rose from Tomahawk’s Touch of Gold; a $20 gift certificate from Sammy’s Subs; a “something borrowed, something blue” themed gift ensemble that includes a handkerchief, antique prayer book, and candy dish from B & L Resale; two 10-ounce romantic ribeye dinners from Ike’s Café; a crystal vase from Northern Bear Antique Mall, A Spanish sparkling wine Segura Viudas from The Liquor Store; a Westmoreland Wakefield glass ruby mint compote from Family Traditions, and a “Lucky in Love” gift basket from The Cheese Shoppe that includes a bottle of Brigadoon “Kiss Me Kate” strawberry wine,l “Lucky in Love” wine glasses, bottle stopper, napkins, cheese, crackers, and tray.
During the Lovers’ Lane promotion, downtown merchants will offer a wide variety of choices for the perfect Valentine’s Day gift, including most of the items offered to the Lovers’ Lane Wedding Chapel couples. To view an album of gift options, visit www.facebook.com/tomahawkmainstreet.com or www.tomahawkmainstreet.org and click on “current news.”
Tomahawk is nestled among many Northwoods natural wonders such as Bradley, SARA and Veterans Memorial Parks that offer primitive camping, boating, fishing, hiking, biking, hunting, snowmobiling and much more. The downtown features antiques stores, boutiques, and shops that offer Wisconsin-made artisan products, as well as family-owned restaurants. Click here to earn more about Tomahawk.
