Sidney is a very special community. When they decide to have a classic car show, for example, most of the main street shuts down and Beacon Avenue is transformed into a celebration of classic vehicles.
When Halloween rolls around, the entire main drag is closed for trick-or-treating ghouls and goblins to have their way.
The summer market nights are yet another example, but you get the picture.
So, it’s no surprise that the community has found a way to celebrate the tradition of Christmas shopping in its own very special way.
Friday, Nov. 22 will see Sidney transformed into a winter wonderland, showing off all the festive spirit that folks have come to expect from this beautiful, vibrant community.
It’s the official kickoff to the holiday season, once again bringing the entire community (and visitors) together for an evening full of holiday cheer, unique shopping experiences, fun, food, activities and holiday-themed surprises.
There are some immediate rewards for the experience, beyond the fact that Sidney is always a great place to shop for those special gifts. Anyone spending $50 or more at any of Sidney’s wonderful boutiques need only take their receipt to the Explore Sidney team (Seaport Place and Beacon Avenue) and they’ll be given a $10 gift card. (There’s a limit of one per person, but still, it’s a gesture that’s wonderfully in keeping with the giving spirit of the season.)
Complimentary treats and hot chocolate will be available to shoppers as they wander through the festive lights of Sidney. Or shoppers can cozy up at The Farmer’s Daughter for mulled wine, cider, and grilled cheese bites – perfect for warming up as you explore.
Did we mention that the first 100 people to visit the corner of Third Street and Beacon Avenue will receive a free Sidney by the Sea mug? How about the fact that Santa (a big fan of Sidney because he loves any place with holiday spirit) has let it know that he’ll be on hand from 5 – 7 p.m. for photos and cookies at the corner of 5th and Beacon Avenue?
There will be other surprises as well, like a chance to make your own special holiday wreath at the hands-on station hosted by Hansell and Halkett Vintage Home Decor.
According to Morgan Shaw, the executive director of Sidney’s Business Improvement Association, Sidney is a perfect place to get into the holiday spirit and kick-start your own in-person shopping tradition.
Let’s face it, as convenient as all that online shopping may be, no one will be giving you hot chocolate or wishing you a happy holiday if all your shopping is done while sitting on your couch. Christmas, after all, is a season of community spirit and celebration … and Sidney’s Annual Shopping Night is the perfect place to find both.
Sidney’s Annual Holiday Open House runs Nov. 22 from 4-8 p.m. in downtown Sidney.
