What a great day last Sunday was! We just finished with Trunk or Treat. From businesses that decorated vehicles to residents outside the city wanting to hand out candy and see creative costumes and parents wanting a safe and organized environment for their children, it was truly a phenomenal, fun day.
Then, this past Wednesday, Christmas music started playing from the courthouse. It was rather by surprise since the station switched over for the season. Much like the stakes that went up around the walkways at the courthouse, it was a stark reminder that in about eight weeks the holidays will be over and whether we’re quite ready or not, they’re nearly here. And as quickly and definitive as fall has been — shopping the final outdoor markets, really enjoying the warmth from a cup of coffee, crisp air, and the pumpkin patch display we have set up on the west side of the courthouse — there are even more moments to be grateful for and enjoying.
Last Thursday was our second and final wine walk of the year. It is part of our First Thursday Shopping Nights. Stores are open late to allow more opportunity to shop. This wine walk also acts as our unofficial holiday open house. Attendees sampled and shopped at 17 participating locations. The shelves are full and stocked with so many items that you can find housewarming gifts, stocking stuffer items, and definitely something you can treat yourself with — big or small. And more merchandise is arriving weekly.
Our Lighted Christmas Parade will return on Friday, December 3rd. Our Retail Promotion is running for eight weeks starting this Friday. Much like everyone’s season, there is a lot going on! And like most everyone else, we want to capture as many of those moments as possible.
New this year, we are unveiling a Downtown Christmas Lookbook. It’s a collection of photographs selected by a good variety of shop owners highlighting what is currently available. There’s a strong emphasis on items made in the United States of America and even in our region. And while it is not a catalog — you won’t be able to shop from it, at least directly — we hope that it will better allow you to shop and support local this season. Specific to the season, it will highlight trends and styles.
So whether you need a little insight about gifts for the teen that’s ambivalent about most things or the parent who seemingly has everything, you will find inspiration. Part gift guide, part snapshot of 2021; what started with over 1,000 photos being taken of over 100 items has been curated to highlight the synergy between stores. It’s our vision of the moments that make all of your efforts this season worthwhile. From textured sweaters being the name of the game as temperatures start to dip to decorating your home for Christmas Eve; place settings and so much more, it is a highly visual snapshot of the items that will last year after year. Helping to make standout memories by showing your style and what matters most this season, our Downtown Christmas Lookbook is your ticket to a bit of extra magic for this Christmas season that is nearly here.
It will be available on our website: mainstreetmonroe.org this upcoming Friday. If you are on Facebook and Instagram, you can also explore it via our stories and highlight reels. All participating stores will be linked.
— Jordan Nordby is the executive director for Main Street Monroe. He can be reached at MonroeMainStreet@tds.net. complete details on Main Street Monroe and its efforts can be found at mainstreetmonroe.org.
