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GREENWICH, Conn. Ice sculptors, horse-drawn carriage rides, caroling and entertainment will set the holiday season in motion on Greenwich Avenue for the third annual Greenwich Holiday Stroll Weekend from Dec. 3 to Dec. 4.
This event has been created to showcase the extraordinary retail stores and restaurants in the downtown Greenwich area and to promote community spirit during the Holiday Season, says Tamara Ketler, President of TMK Sports & Entertainment, event creator and producer.
The hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 3 and noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 4. Merchants along Greenwich Avenue and its side streets in downtown Greenwich will be joining in the fun. Parking will be free all weekend, compliments of the town's Parking Services Department.
Professional ice carvers will compete in a sculpture competition, sponsored by Greenwich Magazine and Abby M. Taylor, in front of the Greenwich Senior Center from noon to 3 p.m. Dec. 3. A panel of judges will choose the winners, and the finished ice creations will be on display Dec. 4 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
You will also have the opportunity to experience an old-fashioned, holiday horse-drawn carriage ride down Greenwich Avenue and up Mason Street from noon to 3 p.m. on both days. The carriage will pick up and drop off at Greenwich Avenue and Amogerone Crossway and at Greenwich Avenue and Fawcett Place.
The 80-plus participating retailers and restaurants have paired with specialty vendors to offer food and drink tastings and other unique product samplings. In addition, special promotions and savings will be available through the mobile application, Shopper on the Go, which can be downloaded for free from iTunes.
A donation box for shoppers to contribute to Kids in Crisis will be set up at each retailer and restaurant. Because there are no parking fees on Saturday, perhaps that presents an opportunity for people to give that money to Kids in Crisis instead, said Allen L. Corry, director of parking services in Greenwich.
Four live reindeer will be in residence at McArdles Florist & Garden Center and families, children, pets and corporate groups can have their photo taken with Santa at his workshop. This is part of the Greenwich Reindeer Festival & Santas Workshop, which runs from Nov. 25 through Dec. 24.
The Holiday Entertainment Headquarters Tent will be located in front of St. Mary Parish, at 178 Greenwich Ave. and will feature a variety of musical groups, including Caroline Jones, The Grace Notes, The Off Sounders, the Mistletones and more.
The Greenwich Chamber of Commerce will have two hospitality tents where it will be distributing warm holiday refreshments. Patch, Whole Foods Market and Venture Photography will also have tents with holiday activities set up along the Avenue.
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