What started as a single illuminated building has grown into a shining example of community collaboration in Eastpointe. On December 4th, 2024, local businesses along Gratiot Avenue joined forces for the second annual “Light Up The Night” initiative, coinciding with the City of Eastpointe’s traditional tree lighting ceremony at City Hall.
“I believe that simple, yet meaningful, initiatives like this bridge the gap in our communities,” explains John Hofmann, Founder of Fusion Marketing and creator of the Light Up The Night initiative. “At the end of the day, as consumers, we need to support the organizations that act as foundations in our communities – without them, all we’ll have left are Amazon holding warehouses.”
A Growing Tradition
The evolution of Light Up The Night reflects the power of persistent community engagement. What began in 2022 with a single decorated building has expanded significantly. In 2023, the initiative gained momentum when Ian McCain from the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) secured microgrant funding, enabling two city blocks of businesses to participate. This year, through the dedicated efforts of our team member Kat Strong, the invitation extended to businesses between 8 Mile and 10 Mile, bringing notable local establishments like Gravity Auto Sales, Eternal Tattoos, Andary’s, and DJ’s Window Tinting into the growing tradition.
The initiative’s success has been bolstered by strong partnerships between Fusion Marketing, Shine, the Eastpointe Roseville Chamber of Commerce, and the City of Eastpointe, all working together to expand the event’s reach and impact.
A Night of Community Celebration
This year marked a special milestone as Light Up The Night aligned with the City of Eastpointe’s tree lighting ceremony. The evening brought together various community organizations, creating a festive atmosphere that embodied the spirit of local collaboration. Our team joined forces with the Eastpointe Community Garden, distributing candy canes to children and providing custom-printed selfie props that proved to be a huge hit with attendees.
“I had more fun at the holiday lighting this year than any of the previous years,” Hofmann reflects. “There were more lights, more people, and it just felt different. The city and DPW did a fantastic job putting together the event at city hall.”
Inside City Hall, the Community Garden team educated residents about their initiatives while distributing seed packets. The City of Eastpointe contributed to the festivities with a popular s’mores station outside, while Cops Care was also present to support the community celebration. At 7:00 PM, the excitement peaked as Santa Claus arrived on a fire truck, delivered a heartwarming speech, and ceremoniously flipped the switch to illuminate City Hall’s holiday display. Santa then made his way inside, where children eagerly lined up to share their Christmas wishes and take photos with him.
The Ripple Effect
As the city’s Christmas tree sparkled to life, participating businesses along Gratiot Avenue switched on their holiday displays, creating a coordinated celebration of light that transformed the evening drive home into something special. This synchronization of efforts between City Hall and local businesses perfectly exemplifies how community initiatives can create meaningful impact.
Hofmann started Fusion Marketing in 2013 with a mission to give local businesses a fighting chance against larger corporations. The Light Up The Night initiative embodies this mission, demonstrating how small actions can create lasting community connections. Each year, the event grows larger, weaving a brighter tapestry of community engagement and local business support.
The future of Light Up The Night remains open-ended, growing organically with each passing year. As more businesses join the initiative and community participation increases, this holiday tradition continues to illuminate the power of local collaboration and community spirit.
Check out our photo gallery below to see highlights from this wonderful community celebration, including the city’s tree lighting ceremony and families enjoying the festivities. We will add photos of the holiday displays along Gratiot Avenue as they become available.
