Shop Til You Drop
Inspired by a similar event in Nantucket, volunteers from several downtown organizations are launching the inaugural Historic Wilmington’s Holly Jolly Holiday Stroll on December 11 and 12 with the purpose of encouraging shoppers to explore the many offerings of downtown Wilmington shops and restaurants. The family-friendly event is free.
Partners in the event are the Downtown Business Alliance, Residents of Old Wilmington, Historic Wilmington Foundation, Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover, downtown bed and breakfast owners and Wilmington Downtown Inc. (WDI), according to WDI’s administrative assistant Haven Holsinger. Such an event falls squarely in line with WDI’s mission to be advocates for downtown businesses and residents, she said.
On the job for the past two years, Holsinger uses the sales and marketing skills she developed during a decade in the hotel events and sales business.
“It’s about relationships,” she says.
WDI also works to connect prospective businesses with landlords, real estate brokers, city departments and others that are necessary partners in location of a new business to the downtown area.
Bringing focus to the downtown area is part of that mission, and Holsinger says this new event is designed to do just that. While the downtown area has a well-established parade, which took place on Sunday, and a tree lighting ceremony, there was nothing to encourage shoppers, particularly last-minute shoppers to check out downtown retailers.
“We’ve worked the past six months to come up with the signature event to encourage people to come downtown to shop and to come downtown to see what our unique shops have to offer,” Holsinger says.
Merchants will participate by extending business hours and by competing in a decorating contest judged by a panel as well as through a People’s Choice online voting process.
The merchant response has been good, Holsinger says.
“They all seem real excited about whatever we can do to get people downtown,” she says about the upcoming event.
Measuring the success will be a simple matter of getting feedback from the merchants as well as watching the foot traffic during the two-day event, she says.
The Holly Jolly Holiday Stroll begins with a ribbon cutting at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, December 11 at the reflecting pool near First Bank on Market Street.
Santa will arrive on board the Henrietta III boat at 11:30 a.m. December 12.
On both days, entertainers will be located strategically along the downtown streets and locales such as the Bailey Theatre Park. Strolling carolers will perform.
“We’re trying to have as much activity as possible,” Holsinger says.
Event details and other downtown holiday event information is available on the WDI website (wilmingtondowntown.com).
Merchants are encouraged to stay open until 8 or 9 p.m. on the two nights to allow for extra shopping time.
The concept is similar to the arts council’s Fourth Friday Gallery Walk in which downtown galleries remain open late for arts enthusiasts. The focus for the Holly Jolly Holiday Stroll, as with the gallery walk, is on existing brick-and-mortar shops downtown, Holsinger says.
“We want people to see what we have downtown 365 days a year,” she says. “If, in the future they’re looking for a birthday gift or a graduation gift, we want them to think of downtown.”
DOWNTOWN HOLIDAY EVENTS
A Christmas Carol
The Theatre Exchange’s stage adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic
Thalian Hall
December 10-21
Info: thalianhall.org
It’s a Wonderful Life
Screening of the classic Frank Capra film
Thalian Hall
December 22
Info: thalianhall.org
Downtown Merchants Decorating Contest
People’s Choice online voting begins December 1 and ends December 10 on the WDI website. Winners will be announced at Holly Jolly Holiday Stroll ribbon cutting.
Info: wilmingtondowntown.com
Holly Jolly Holiday Stroll
December 11 and 12
Ribbon cutting, 4:30 p.m., Friday, December 11, Market Street
Santa’s arrival, 11:30 a.m., Saturday, December 12, Henrietta III dock
Christmas Stroll Through the Past
Burgwin-Wright House/Bellamy Mansion Museum
December 12
Info: bellamymansion.org
