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NEW CANAAN, Conn. As with many businesses, Design Solutions says the December holiday shopping season will be crucial.
Its very important. It makes or breaks our year, said Pauline Dora, owner of the Elm Street home decor and gift shop. We hope people will come here.
Design Solutions and other downtown retailers are hoping to a fast start to the shopping season, one that could get a jumpstart with the annual Holiday Stroll, which will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday and continue from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
The Holiday Stroll, run by the New Canaan Chamber of Commerce, is an event meant to draw people to the towns main shopping district to welcome winter and get people in the giving and buying spirit. Many stores will stay open late Friday. The evening will also include live entertainment on a stage on Elm Street and a visit from Santa Claus at 6:30 p.m. Friday. Several shops will also have gingerbread houses decorated for the season in their windows.
The chamber already set the mood, turning on the lights on trees on Main, Elm and Forest streets as well as putting lights and garland on street lamps. Chamber Executive Director Tucker Murphy said organizing the Stroll is more challenging than the annual Village Fair and Sidewalk Sale, the chambers other big event that happens in the summer. This is like putting together a Broadway play, she said.
Many business owners are looking forward to the Stroll because it brings plenty of traffic to town, Murphy said. This year looks like it will be absolutely perfect, she said. Its a special night, and theres tons of stuff to do.
Dora hopes the Stroll reminds residents to shop locally rather than online. It gives them the opportunity to get out and see the stores and see that they should support this town, Dora said.
Margaret Schwartz, co-owner of the Summer House, says she couldnt be happier to greet the season because she and partner Megan Freyer love Christmas. The home store is decked out with holiday decorations, including a white feather tree.
Its definitely going to be important for us, said Schwartz, who plans to bake chocolate chip cookies for the Stroll. Its a chance to get our name out there as well.
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