MARLBOROUGH – It was a day to celebrate the holidays by promoting downtown businesses.
After months of dealing with construction along Main Street, several business owners decided to organize a holiday event. With assistance from the Marlborough Economic Development Corp., the first Holiday Stroll took place on the afternoon of Dec. 17.
“It’s amazing,” said Lex Dascoli, the owner of Vibes Candles and the person who designed the Holiday Stroll map.
Other businesses who helped organize the event included Zarape, Vin Bin and Lost Shoe Brewery.
Vibes was among the vendors occupying the pop-up shops at Weed Street. The Holiday Stroll marked the final weekend of a very successful season.
“It’s such a great opportunity for me as a small business,” said Alicia Tucker of Marlborough, who operated Magic & Color for most of the season. “I hope to sign up next year.”
The pop-up shops were among the villages that comprised the Holiday Stroll. Throughout the afternoon, visitors could stop by one of the villages, check out the vendors and activities, and get something to eat and drink.
“I’m excited to see it [the Holiday Stroll],” said Danielle Watson of Hudson, who runs Candles & Fizz with Lisa Bennett of Southborough.
For the event, they offered visitors a chance to make an oatmeal-based “reindeer food;” this is spread over the ground on Christmas Eve to encourage Santa’s reindeer to stop for a quick snack.
Several local restaurants, including Welly’s, Kennedy’s, Street Kitchen, Zarape and Classic Pizza, took part in a contest for the best clam chowder.
Another restaurant, Raising Cane’s, offered free lemonade and coupons for a free kids’ combo meal.
“The response has been amazing,” said Carly Ciarletta, part of the Raising Cane’s marketing team.
Members of the City Council, including Mayor-elect J. Christian Dumais, handed out free hot chocolate.
Activities included storytelling at Word on the Street bookstore, ornament making, ballroom dance lessons and cookie decorating.
