Rockport Purchasing Evening set for Dec. 9 | Information

ROCKPORT — The city’s Vacation Purchasing Evening, held lately over a interval of nights, has modified. This 12 months, the occasion shall be held on one evening.

The explanation?

“We determined to have one purchasing evening to get probably the most curiosity from the general public to buy regionally,” stated Olivia Perez-O’Dess of the Higher Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce. “The concept got here out of our Christmas in Rockport planning conferences which began in September to plan for our occasion sequence.”

Vacation Purchasing Evening will happen Friday, Dec. 9, from 4 to 9 p.m. To encourage residents and those that frequent Rockport to spend their cash near residence, nearly $2,000 in prizes and present playing cards shall be awarded to those that store. Collaborating are greater than 30 downtown companies, together with these on Bearskin Neck.

The evening is a part of the bigger Christmas in Rockport slew of occasions, which incorporates the arrival of Santa Claus by boat at T-Wharf on Rockport Harbor and the night lighting of the city’s Christmas Tree in Dock Sq..

“Christmas in Rockport couldn’t occur with out the help of Rockport’s companies, in collaboration with the Higher Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce,” Perez-O’Dess stated.

The concept of Christmas in Rockport was created by some downtown enterprise house owners, principally these positioned alongside Bearskin Neck. Roughly 30 companies take part within the occasion, which is sponsored by the Higher Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce and the Christmas in Rockport Planning Committee.

“The intention of the occasion is to get individuals into native companies and to encourage them to buy regionally,” stated Perez-O’Dess.

Collaborating companies plan to donate the present playing cards to be raffled at Vacation Purchasing Evening. The raffle cash raised will assist fund bills for Christmas in Rockport, together with paying for advertising and marketing and printed supplies related to the occasions.

A lot of the work on Vacation in Rockport was performed by Christina Willcox of the Rockport Candle Co. and Lisa Gove, who owns The Glass Home, the Blissful Whale and Alexander’s Pottery & Presents.

“I believe it’s essential,” stated Gove. “This concept that has come about is absolutely new and thrilling and can hopefully generate lots of enterprise and lots of gross sales.”

The plan for Friday is handy out vacation purchasing playing cards to costumers who then get stamps on the cardboard as they go to shops and galleries throughout their purchasing spree. Every stamp collected will depend for one raffle ticket entry.

“The extra individuals store, the extra stamps they earn, the extra possibilities they should win one of many three prizes,” stated Perez-O’Dess.

The present drawing will happen at an “after celebration” on the restaurant Fleur Delicacies Harborside, positioned on T-Wharf. Awarded shall be a:

Grand prize of a “present tree” holding greater than $900 in present playing cards.

Second-place present tree with greater than $500 in present playing cards.

Third-place present tree holding greater than $350 in present playing cards.

These taking part within the raffle needn’t be current to win one of many prizes. Extra info on the occasion, together with an outline on the raffle, could also be discovered at www.christmasinrockport.com.

Gove stated if the occasion succeeds, it ought to develop sooner or later, very like related occasions in close by municipalities.

“We’re hoping whether it is profitable, it will likely be larger and higher subsequent 12 months,” stated Gove. “It’s excessive time Rockport adopted one thing like that.”

Stephen Hagan may be reached at 978-675-2708 or through e-mail at shagan@northofboston.com.