MOOSE JAW — Downtown Moose Jaw will soon come alive with the sights and sounds of spring during the second annual “Swing into Spring” shopping event, where participating local businesses, organized by Laurie Hysuick with support from Tourism Moose Jaw, will showcase local entrepreneurs and welcome the arrival of warmer weather.
Set to coincide with the 2025 BKT World Men’s Curling Championship in Moose Jaw, the event will run from March 28 to April 5, offering visitors and residents a chance to explore and support the community.
According to Laurie Hysuick, owner of Mitny Refillery, Swing into Spring will also include a draw for the chance to win an assortment of locally donated prizes.
“The event kicks off on March 28 with the beginning of curling week, and the final day to enter the draw will be Saturday, April 5,” Hysuick explained. “The draw will take place later that evening, with winners able to pick up their prizes Sunday morning before they leave town.”
Swing into Spring is a community shopping event in downtown Moose Jaw designed to celebrate the return of warmer weather and support local businesses. Similar to Christmas in October, shoppers can visit participating stores to explore their offerings and enter to win a grand prize basket, featuring contributions from each business.
With regular or optionally extended business hours — notably an extended shopping experience on Thursday, April 3 — the event encourages residents to reconnect with their favourite local shops and enjoy a day of renewed community spirit.
Prizes have been generously donated by participants and may include a range of products and gift certificates. A full list of participating businesses will be available for shoppers to reference, ensuring they know which locations qualify them for a chance to win.
“We just want to have fun with it,” Hysuick said. “We’re going to have 40,000 extra people in town for the curling event, so why wouldn’t we have an event that keeps people downtown and encourages them to get out and about? It’s all about having fun and supporting our local businesses.”
One of the highlights of this year’s Swing into Spring will be a photo booth in the train station lobby at 5 Manitoba Street East, courtesy of Tourism Moose Jaw. The booth will feature curling-themed props such as “I only sweep when I’m curling” and “I throw rocks at houses,” adding a playful element to the occasion.
Compared to last year, the event has expanded to include all businesses in the downtown area, not just those within the core shopping district. Hysuick noted that any business interested in participating is still welcome to get involved, provided they reach out before the first day of Swing into Spring.
“If any businesses still want to participate, they can contact me directly, and we’ll get them set up,” she confirmed.
For Hysuick, the event is about more than just business promotion; it’s a way to lift the spirits of the community after a long winter.
“Let’s get out of this long winter, have fun, and check out what’s new downtown,” Hysuick said. “It’s a great way to celebrate the arrival of spring and show support for the businesses that make our downtown so unique.”
If you own a downtown business and would like to participate in this year’s Swing into Spring event, contact Laurie Hysuick at 306-694-6330, [email protected], or visit Mitny Refillery at 5 Manitoba Street East.
For a complete list of participating businesses, pick up a pamphlet at Mitny Refillery or visit “Mitny Refillery” on Facebook.
