The Healdsburg Tourism Improvement District (HTID), a benefit assessment district that funds marketing and sales promotion efforts for lodging businesses in Healdsburg, announces over $66,000 in grants to five organizations that support various annual festivals and holiday events. The grant program is derived from the local hospitality industry’s annual bed tax receipts and works to fund events, activities and projects in Healdsburg which enrich the community and visitor experience.
These recent grants support local organizations in bringing joy throughout the town during the holiday season after many events were canceled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of these grants, Corazon Healdsburg put on a Dia De Los Muertos event last month featuring live music, dancing, food trucks, and a community altar to show appreciation and respect to the growing Latin American community and increase awareness for this meaningful holiday. In addition, local organizations such as the Healdsburg Chamber/City of Healdsburg and Healdsburg Jazz are able to spread holiday cheer through seasonal events and programming, including:
Merry Healdsburg Weekend from the Healdsburg Chamber/City of Healdsburg offers festive activities for the whole family from Dec. 3-5 and kicks off with the popular Light Up the Plaza event, where the Healdsburg Plaza and holiday tree will be ceremoniously lit with lights and decorations. The event includes photos with Santa and activities like a hot chocolate truck, a Frozen sing-along, holiday decorating, and snow machines.
The beloved Healdsburg Light Archway will double in length this year and feature an interactive component where the community and visitors are invited to add votive candles and inspirational messages to the archway.
An interactive Sound Stage will bring an immersive experience to the Plaza Gazebo, with 800 LED lights that respond to sounds ranging from music to the human voice, creating a constantly evolving, interactive light display.
Swingin’ Holidays 2021 by Healdsburg Jazz will provide free and festive live holiday music and culture outside in the Plaza Gazebo, featuring three different music groups on three different dates in December.
“We are proud to be able to empower our Healdsburg communities to create events and programming that enhance the visitor experience and showcase the city as a top tourism destination,” said Brooke Ross, member of the HTID and Director of Sales and Marketing at Hotel Trio. ”We’re excited to see the community come together and participate in these fun events and programs that are a celebration of Healdsburg’s unique charm and culture.”
Circe Sher, member of the HTID and Co-Founder of Piazza Hospitality added, “Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many of our annual events had to be put on hold, so we are thrilled to be able to make these events possible and uplift everyone’s spirits this holiday season after a hard year of pandemic induced lockdowns.”
Adopted in 2013, the HTID gives 22.5 percent of its funds to the District Development Grant Program. All lodging properties within the city limits pay a 2 percent assessment, which funds HTID’s activities promoting tourism to Healdsburg. Grant program applications open twice a year in the spring and fall, and priority is given to nonprofit organizations planning projects aimed at improving the visitor experience such as transportation and parking solutions, infrastructure enhancements, and activities and events.
