Launched in early November, Holiday Shop Tacular kick-started the holiday shopping season in downtown Battle Creek.
City and downtown merchants have always hosted a variety of holiday-themed events and activities, but the emergence of this year’s Shoptacular and Winter Wanderland has the city and small business development leaders hoping to grow in the future. It includes collaborations that lay the groundwork for these signature events. said John Hurt, Small Business Development Director for the City of Battle Creek.
holiday shop tacular started as a “call to shop locally” in the first week of November, Hart said.
Customers will not only be able to find unique items and a wide variety of food and drink at local shops and restaurants, but will also have the added incentive of spending money in the city’s downtown district in the form of weekly sweepstakes. Every Monday until Christmas.
To enter the Sweepstakes, shoppers must visit at least three participating stores or restaurants, make an eligible purchase at any of these locations, and post a photo of themselves visiting the three locations on Facebook, or You must post a photo or a photo of your purchase.Also, it’s a good idea to tag Downtown Battle Creek Use the hashtag #BCShoptacular.
Aspidistra’s shelves are lined with items that heal the mind and body.“Some of the winners of these paintings told me they come downtown to buy certain things, but they haven’t been here casually for 20 or 30 years. “Shoptacular is an initiative to support downtown businesses and showcase what they have to offer to the community.”
This initiative sets the stage for a two-day winter wonderland on Friday and Saturday, offering a collection of holiday-themed events in and around downtown Battle Creek. Hart said the event is a collaboration with the city’s small business development organization, Cafe Rica/Breaking Bread, Penetrator Events, Sprout, Kellogg’s His Arena, Battle Creek Farmers Market, and Invigo Rating Touch.
“This is the first time we are doing these events together. We don’t always want to create something from scratch. I think it makes sense,” says Hart. “We decided to have him do two days of programming. Our goal was to have three or he four different groups that were independent of each other but working together.”
The event kicks off at the Night Bazaar inside Kellogg Arena on Friday from 4-8pm. According to Hart, this free holiday-themed event is a blend of the Night Market and Breaking His Bread Bazaar hosted by Battle Creek Farmers Market. Sponsored by Cafe Rica.
Includes a maker’s market, a pop-up market, indoor activities for kids where you can meet and greet Santa, participate in an indoor snowball fight, and slide down an inflatable slide.
The refrigerated cases inside Simply Sensational Belize at 80 West Michigan Avenue are packed with a wide variety of sweet treats.“The goal was to bring to Kellogg Arena most of the makers that people would expect to find in Café Rica as part of the hospitality group Breaking Bred,” says Hart. “These would be fun activities for kids to do while parents shop.”
Outside the Festival Square Marketplace arena, the Holiday Tree Village features more than 25 Christmas trees, each decorated by local institutions and organizations.donated trees firefighter casino, Hart says adoption will be available on Sunday, and trees not adopted by individuals will be given to those who need them.
While enjoying the holiday atmosphere and the opportunity to venture into the shops outside, visitors can take advantage of the city’s social district and enjoy adult beverages, Hart said. You can also sign up for a free horse-drawn carriage that takes you on a tour of the Downtown He area. Horse-drawn carriages are offered on both Fridays and Saturdays.
“Once you show up and put your name on the list, you’re given a time slot, which gives you time to walk around and come back,” Hart says.
Adriana Brown can be seen at Aspidistra, a shop that specializes in high quality natural skin care products. 4. Brown helps with the day-to-day operations of a business owned by his mother, Lori Olsen.Saturday’s festivities kick off with the Holiday Craft and Vendor Show at the Kellogg Arena from 9am to 4pm. Admission is $3.
Hart hopes the craft and vendor shows will draw large crowds downtown for the second day of Winter Wonderland and the city’s Christmas parade, which begins at 6:15 p.m. Saturday. battle creek brass band Holiday Concert at 7:30 PM at Kellogg Auditorium. The concert will feature the vocal talents of Battle Creek native Broadway star Doug Labrecque and the musical talents of internationally acclaimed trombonist Joseph Alessi.
The Battle Creek Community Foundation is also hosting a parade pop-up event at 32 West Michigan Avenue from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., says Lori Olsen. She is the manager of 32 Enterprises, a newly formed social enterprise venture overseen by the Battle Creek Community Foundation, and the owner of Aspidistra, a shop in downtown Battle Creek that specializes in quality natural skin care products. I have. Olsen said the pop-up will see her more than 10 vendors attend and offer free hot her chocolates handed out by BCCF President and CEO Brenda Hunt and her BCCF staff.
“I hope people are pleasantly surprised by what’s happening in our downtown area,” Hart says. “Sometimes we hear that nothing is happening in Battle Creek. We want people to know that if they look around, there’s a lot going on here, and there’s a lot more to come. “