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ALPENA -- Celebrate the beginning of the holiday season in Downtown Alpena this Saturday at the second annual downtown Holiday Open House. More than 30 downtown shops will be transformed for the Christmas season and ready to help visitors get a start on their holiday shopping.
Throughout the downtown, businesses will be hosting special festive activities and promotions including:
¯ A free Peppermint Sugar Scrub bar at Soaps and Such;
¯ Free goody bags for the first 25 shoppers at Rusty Petunias Marketplace;
¯ Warm apple wassail at Olivet Book and Gift plus specials on Christmas merchandise;
¯ A broom making class at Illuminate Wellness;
¯ New seasonal drink menus at Cabin Creek Coffee and Biggby Coffee.
"The holiday season can be hectic, so we are encouraging the community to get a jump start on their shopping at our downtown-wide open house," said Alpena Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Anne Gentry. "There are over 30 locally owned shops downtown participating that will be in full holiday mode. Some are even closing the day before to transform their shops for the holiday reveal on Saturday."
Participating shops will have small sleighs that will be filled with coupons from participating businesses and Downtown Dollars. Shoppers can stop in to draw coupons including $10 off a $30 purchase at Glik's, 10% your entire purchase at Cedar & Threads, BOGO 50% drafts at PIF Cider, and more.
Finally, the Holiday Open House will also kick off a special Downtown Dollars promotion led by the DDA, where those purchasing the multi-merchant gift certificates can get bonus dollars: Buy $25 get $5, Buy $50 get $10, and Buy $80 get $20. The promotion will run until $1,000 of bonus Downtown Dollars are given out. Downtown Dollars can be purchased at Bolenz Jewelry and Parallel 45 Books and Gifts during the Open House.
"The holiday season is the second busiest time of year for our downtown shops and businesses," Gentry said. "It is important our community choose to shop small and shop local this holiday season to keep our businesses strong and our downtown vibrant. We can't wait to kick off this magical time of year on Saturday."
Participating businesses include: Alpena Furniture and Flooring, Art in the Loft, Bob's Bullpen, The Bluebird Boutique, Bolenz Jewelry, Cedar and Threads, Classic Designs by Doreen Thomas, Colburn Outfitters, Emery Enterprises, Gliks, Harborside Cycle, HopSide Brewery, Lasting Expressions, Local Basket Case, My Glass Wings, Myers Fashions Etc., Noise and Toys, Olivet Book and Gift, Parallel 45 Books and Gifts, PIF Cider, Prattscape, The Rabbit Hole, Regalo Luxury Gifts, Rusty Petunias Marketplace, The Sanctuary Store, Sweet Baby James, Soaps and Such, Thunder Bay Arts Council and Gallery, Thunder Bay Winery, Traveling Ladders, and Yarns to Go.