Fall/Winter Seasonal Guide
The crisp wind means Uptown Saint John is embracing Fall & Winter! Check out our seasonal signature initiatives, Season of Sparkle activities, Uptown Saint John Gift Card, and Clean Crew services.
We suggest you keep this bookmarked and check back often for up-to-date info!
Fall Uptown Saint John Gift Card Sale – Pending
Our bi-annual sale is pending for Fall & Spring. The sale is for 20% off Uptown Gift Cards while supplies last. $250 will be available for purchase for $200 Maximum one card per purchase per person per email address with Card Pick-up next day.
We will email you & post on our social media when the next one is about to happen.
Fall Chop Chop – November 4th to 10th, 2024
We are SO excited to be celebrating 15 years of Chop Chop this Fall 2024! That is a LOT of good food and good memories!
For this delightful week-long food initiative, we ask you to submit a menu item of your choice for one or each of the following categories;
Chop Chop Plate up to $15
2-Course Chop Chop Lunch up to $20
3-Course Chop Chop Dinner up to $45
$1 per dish will be collected at the end of the week to be donated on your behalf to the Lunch Connection program. (link to our Lunch connection program)
(During all of our food initiatives, we get many dietary requests from patrons. So if any of your offerings are gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, or halal, please be sure to note it when submitting your menus to us). We will send you an email to sign up for this closer to the date.
Be sure to tag us on Instagram @UptownsjEATS in your Chop Chop photos & use the hashtags #chopchopsj #UptownsjEATS
Uptown Sparkles – Dec 6th 2024
We encourage all Uptown Saint John BIA business members to join us for Uptown Sparkles! Our annual Uptown Sparkles is where we kick off the holiday season with lighting displays, entertainment, and more! We invite all businesses to stay open late and take part!
Opportunity: Let us know what your business is doing for the day of Uptown Sparkles!
Uptown Sparkles has a new look! If you are a business located within the Uptown Saint John BIA or if you are having an event happening for Uptown Sparkles within the BIA you are welcome to download & use the new logo & graphics, by clicking here.
The Gingerbread Trail – Dec 2nd to 24th, 2024
Be part of a delightful holiday tradition! The Gingerbread Trail, presented by the Ginger Agency and sponsored by Uptown Saint John BIA, & Flewwelling Press, invites local businesses to showcase their creativity through festive gingerbread displays.
This beloved event is a community favourite, and your participation helps create magical holiday memories for locals and visitors alike. 2024 sign ups are now closed
What You Need to Know:
✨ It’s FREE to participate! No participation fees, just festive fun.
✨ Be creative! Your display can be made with or without real gingerbread. Let your imagination take over, and use materials that fit your vision!
Why Should You Join?
- Spread holiday joy—be part of a fun, creative tradition the community loves.
- Get featured—your business will be included on the Gingerbread Trail map, making it easy for visitors to find and enjoy your display.
Uptown Poutine Fest – Jan 27 to Feb 2, 2025
We invite you to create various takes on this classic Canadian dish for a week each January! You can offer as many different poutines as you would like, and you set the price!
(During all of our food initiatives, we get many dietary requests from patrons. So if any of your offerings are gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, or halal, please be sure to note it when submitting your menus to us). We will send you an email to sign up for this closer to the date.
Be sure to tag us on Instagram @UptownsjEATS in your Uptown Poutine Fest photos & use the hashtags #poutinefestsj #UptownsjEATS
Uptown Taco Week – February 24 to March 2, 2025
Get ready to spice things up for a week in March! Give your customers something to taco ‘bout with your creative taco creations. You can offer as many different tacos as you would like, and you set the price!
(During all of our food initiatives, we get many dietary requests from patrons. So if any of your offerings are gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, or halal, please be sure to note it when submitting your menus to us). We will send you an email to sign up for this closer to the date.
Be sure to tag us on Instagram @UptownsjEATS in your Uptown Taco Week photos & use the hashtags #tacoweeksj #UptownsjEATS
Fall Resources – Uptown Saint John BIA
Uptown Retailer & Restaurant Guide – Online Map
Our interactive online map makes it easy for visitors to find all Uptown Saint John BIA retailers and restaurants in one place.
📍 Where to Find It:
Scan the featured QR code in these locations:
- Discover Saint John & Towns by the Bay information booklet
- Port Saint John Cruise Ship Map
- Skipper (our Clean Crew rig)
- Uptown Tent Cards for Businesses (available for pickup at our office or request one)
- Both sides of our Uptown Retailer & Restaurant Guides
Complimentary Items for Your Business
Our office has free resources available to support and promote your business!
Is your shop or restaurant patio pet-friendly? Let us know! We will add your pet-friendly business to our Uptown Saint John BIA Pet Friendly online map!
Hosting an Outdoor Event?
We offer fun equipment you can borrow for outdoor events or to use in front of your business!
Fire Pits
Hosting a pop-up event or patio gathering? Our fire pits add warmth and atmosphere. (Propane not provided.)
Bubble Machine
Want to create a playful vibe? Borrow our bubble machine! (Bubble fluid available for purchase, delivered with the machine.)
Clean Crew -Uptown Saint John BIA
Setting the Stage
Saint John Energy and Uptown Saint John BIA continue to work hard to make the Uptown Sparkle. In preparation for the holiday season, Uptown will be brightly lit beginning the middle of November with snowflakes, and as always, King’s Square will be lit up, with the bandstand will shine bright as usual!
Fall & Winter Resources – Community & Beyond the Uptown BIA
- Click here to see Port Saint John’s cruise ship schedule. Find out when changes happen by signing up for SMS text alert by texting the word “CRUISE” to 833-222-1191
- City of Saint John snow removal page, you can find out about plowing and parking bans there.
Year Long Initiatives – Uptown Saint John BIA
Facade Grants (Paused for 2025)
The application period for annual Facade Grants starts at the beginning of every year. Facade Grants are awarded to cover up to fifty percent of project costs, to a maximum of $2000 per PID. Funds are limited, and awards are given out on a first-come, first-served basis. To apply, visit our Uptown Grants page by clicking the button below and fill out the form. Please get your application in by mid-fall, so we have time to process it before year-end.
Event Calendar
Did you know you can feature your events in the Uptown Saint John BIA Area on our online events calendar? Event listings can include special events, local markets, festivals, and Uptown Saint John initiatives. Our Uptown event calendar proudly features activities submitted by event organizers, reflecting the dynamic spirit of our community. It’s important to clarify that inclusion on our calendar means visibility on our site and does not extend to further promotional efforts. Each event’s marketing and promotion are solely the responsibility of its organizers, and Uptown Saint John Inc. is not associated with the management or execution of these activities.
The calendar is not for individual store sales or promotions. Certain days are an exception to the submission requirements;
- Valentine’s Day (February 14th)
- St. Patrick’s Day (March 17th)
- Small Business Saturday (Saturday after USA Thanksgiving)
- Uptown Sparkles (the first Friday of every December)
For these 4 special dates, Uptown Saint John BIA business members are welcome to create an event calendar submission promoting anything that relates to that day’s theme ( their business, themed products, window displays, pop-ups, sales, special hours of operation, music, & etc).
Uptown Saint John Gift Card
Have you registered to accept our Uptown Saint John Gift Card? It is accepted by 100+ Uptown businesses and is free for our business members to join.
Contact our Senior Project Manager Tracy at tracy@uptownsj.com to join now!
Uptown Saint John Social Media
Connect with us on Facebook & Instagram at @UptownSJ and remember to use the hashtags #UptownSJ
To see all things food and drink related in Uptown Saint John, check out our @UptownsjEATS accounts on Facebook & Instagram.
- Do you have a feel good moment you want us to share? Tag us on Instagram. We share highlighted moments Uptown in our Instagram stories according to our capacity. (Our Instagram account is most active during our regular office hours of operation)
- Private message us on Instagram if you want to be featured on our Instagram account showing off all the work your business does for a special behind-the-scenes video!
Please note that Uptown Saint John Inc. has over 500+ members in the Uptown Saint John BIA. Please tag these accounts a maximum of once a week. We share according to our capacity.
Behind-the-Scenes Features On Uptown Saint John’s Social Media
The Uptown Saint John Business Improvement Association knows that businesses put in so much work behind the scenes through making products, setting up product displays, taking product photos & more! We want to highlight all the hard work that you, Uptown Saint John BIA Businesses, do. We love getting short videos & photos of your behind-the-scenes moments to share with our followers on Instagram, Facebook, and Tiktok.
Want to be featured next? Message us on @UptownSJ on Instagram (click here to visit our profile) or email Lea through our contact us page by clicking here.
Uptown Saint John’s Marketing Strategy
Elevate the Uptown Saint John area through promotion and support of the overall landscape of Uptown Saint John based on our 3-year strategic plan, pillars, and the New Brunswick BIA Act.
Uptown Saint John Inc. Marketing FAQ for Uptown Businesses
With over 500+ businesses in the Uptown Saint John BIA, we love seeing all the awesome things you are doing across all business sectors!
How does Uptown Saint John Inc. support the Uptown Saint John BIA through marketing and social media?
Our marketing strategy’s mission is to elevate the Uptown Saint John area, taking into account the bigger picture and the overall landscape of Uptown Saint John. Our marketing focuses on our signature initiatives and events that align with and support our 3-year strategic plan, pillars, and the New Brunswick BIA Act. Our content on our social media platforms reflects these values.
How does Uptown Saint John Inc. promote individual businesses in the Uptown Saint John BIA online?
We know that our 500+ businesses operate across different sectors, each with its own marketing plan and strategy with specific target audiences in mind. Uptown Saint John’s marketing strategy does not include promoting individual businesses.
However, Uptown Saint John does have some digital marketing tools that individual businesses can use to promote themselves;
Uptown Saint John’s Website Events Calendar – All special events happening within the Uptown Saint John BIA area are welcome to be submitted to the events calendar. Our Uptown event calendar proudly features activities submitted by event organizers, reflecting the dynamic spirit of our community. It’s important to clarify that inclusion on our calendar means visibility on our site and does not extend to further promotional efforts. Each event’s marketing and promotion are solely the responsibility of its organizers, and Uptown Saint John Inc. is not associated with the management or execution of these activities.
Uptown Saint John’s Instagram Stories – Does your business have a feel-good moment you want us to share? Each month, we share a few feel-good moments from our Uptown businesses in our Instagram stories. Tag Uptown Saint John’s Instagram accounts in your stories, feed photos, and reels for your business’s opportunity to be shared on the Uptown Saint John stories. Tag @UptownSJ to share your Uptown events, products, sales, and other fantastic things your business is doing. Tag @UptownsjEATS to show us what you are featuring on your menu.
Please note that Uptown Saint John Inc. has over 500+ members in the Uptown Saint John BIA. We share according to our capacity.
Community Resources
Sign up for Envision Saint John newsletter & get updates on upcoming conferences and events, but please note the list sent is not exhaustive as the list of events is always changing.
Discover Saint John’s events calendar
Find the latest City of Saint John News & Notices Here
City of Saint John Homelessness Crisis Contact Sheet
City of Saint John Winter Management Plan
Want to see King street traffic, weather, or if there is a cruise ship in port? Click here for the City of Saint John Webcam on King Street
City of Saint John Permits, Licenses, and Service Requests
Heritage Conservation | City of Saint John, New Brunswick
Saint John Police Force non-emergency police number 506-648-3333
“The Saint John Police enforce by-laws related to noise (disturbances of the peace such as loud parties and construction noise), panhandling (obstructive and threatening panhandling), street events (parades, festivals, and demonstrations), and will assist the SPCA for animal control calls.” quote from the City of Saint John website
For emergencies, call 911
Have questions about parking Uptown? Contact the Saint John Parking at the City of Saint John at 506-658-4455
Happy To See You Here
At the Uptown Saint John Business Improvement Association, we are passionate about our Uptown Saint John BIA area! We represent the interests of over 500 business members. Membership is automatic and is based on the location of businesses within a defined area, as seen in this map.