Holiday happenings will mix the old with the new in Downtown Longmont.
Friday kicks off the holiday season in Longmont. More than 40 downtown businesses will host Holiday Open Houses. During the open houses, small businesses will display their holiday goods, allowing shoppers to complete their holiday shopping early.
For the fifth year, the Longmont Downtown Development Authority, or LDDA, also will launch its Winter Passport Program.
The Winter Passport Program will run until Jan. 3, allowing participants to receive a reward for shopping local. As shoppers purchase goods from more than 60 participating downtown businesses, they collect passport stickers. The stickers can be applied to passport pages and turned in for prizes after a full page, or 10 stickers, has been completed. Full pages can be returned to a drop box at St. Stephen’s Plaza, located at 500 Main St. or at the LDDA office at 320 Main St.
“The Winter Passport program and other holiday events and promotions are a fun and rewarding reminder to keep it local during the holiday season. Local small business owners are the heartbeat of our community,” said Colin Argys LDDA marketing and event specialist.
Following Thanksgiving, locals can gather around for the city’s annual Plaza Lighting Ceremony. This year the ceremony has been moved to the Longmont Library at 350 Kimbark St.
“After many years at the old location, we felt the event had outgrown the space and it was time to find a new space. The Library/Civic Center Plaza is a bit more open and should be more conducive to gathering and hosting some additional activities and programming during the event. We will have fond memories of hosting the event in the old location, but look forward to utilizing this new public space,” Argus said.
Not only will local get to visit with Santa but they will be able to enjoy holiday music, a laser show and some hot drinks, according to the LDDA website.
Small business Saturday, Nov. 25, and Artist Sunday, Nov. 26, will top off the weekend. On Saturday, ice carvings will be displayed in St. Stephen’s Plaza along with roaming holiday characters. Artists will occupy local galleries on Sunday.
No matter how you choose to participate, shopping local can have a big impact on the Longmont community.
“They’re (small businesses and artists) our neighbors and friends, and they ensure that Longmont continues to thrive. Their energy, enthusiasm, service, and dedication to their community and customers create a truly unique, one-of-a-kind shopping experience. Keeping your dollars in your local community is important all the time. On average, spending $100 with a local small business generates roughly an additional $68 of additional economic impact in our community,” Argus said.
