The season of merriment and cheer will come to life at the 7th Annual Greenwich Holiday Stroll Weekend with festivities for the whole family on Saturday, Dec. 5 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 6 from noon to 5p.m. The event will feature a live Nativity, horse drawn carriage rides, professional ice sculpture, holiday caroling and entertainment, children’s activities, live reindeer and photos with Santa, plus more than 100 Greenwich merchants and restaurants with many offering promotions, including specials through GreenwichVIP.com, refreshments and in-store attractions.
First Selectman Peter Tesei has issued a proclamation declaring Dec. 5 and 6, 2015 as Holiday Stroll Days to encourage the community to enjoy the festivities and support local merchants this season. All the participating retailers and activities can be found on an interactive map accessed online at GreenwichReindeerFestival.com and by mobile devices. Saturday parking will be sponsored by the Greenwich Town Party.
The event will feature merchants throughout the downtown, from Simon Pearce to Ralph Lauren to McArdle’s, with many offering a special attraction in their store. At Saint Clair, artist Grace Connell will sign gift tags and ornaments, Erika Bloom Pilates will offer stretching and mobility work on Saturday afternoon and there will be complimentary hot cider at The National by Geoffrey Zakarian, which recently opened on Greenwich Avenue.
Shoppers can learn about wines and spirits at a special education class at Horseneck Wines & Liquors and children will enjoy holiday cookie decorating at l’escale on Saturday morning with pastry chef Wendy Laurent. Ten stores will host letter-writing to Santa and Santa’s mailboxes will be located at 16 stores throughout town. For those who would like to spend the night in town, the Delamar is offering a special weekend package that includes deluxe accommodations, in-room champagne, a wine and cheese reception with live holiday piano music and transportation to and from Greenwich stores.
A live Nativity at First United Methodist Church of Greenwich will feature a camel, llama, cow, donkey and five sheep and the story of Christ’s birth performed by area churches. Horse drawn carriage rides, compliments of sponsors Greenwich Magazine, GreenwichVIP.com and Arthur Murray Grande Ballroom of Greenwich, will operate from noon to 3 p.m. each day. Carriage stops will be located at the corner of Amogerone Crossway and Greenwich Avenue, the corner of Fawcett Place and Greenwich Avenue and in front of Cavalier Galleries on Greenwich Avenue.
The Greenwich Arts Council will offer a complimentary snowman art workshop for families on Sunday from noon to 2 p.m. and a professional ice sculpture demonstration by Apple Ice, featuring a top ice carver from New York City, sponsored by Greenwich Magazine/Moffly Media, will take place in front of the Greenwich Senior Center from noon to 2:30 p.m. each day.
A live holiday music tent, sponsored by Greenwich Hospital, in front of Bank of America at 240 Greenwich Avenue, will feature performances by 12 different music groups over the two days made possible by Entertainment Curator Barbara Occhino of BarbaraEntertains.com. Groups will include the Greenwich Public Schools Honor Choir: Prima Voce, Greenwich Baptist Church, Grace Notes, Harmony on the Sound Chorus, The Bows, Connecticut Playmakers, Barbara Occhino’s Serenade with Dan Swartz, Messengers of Hope, The Pop Music Academy, Matt McDonald’s Acoustic Holiday Jam, Sasson, Temple Sholom Teen Choir, and New World Chorus.
To satisfy shoppers’ appetites, many of the stores will offer special treats from Greenwich restaurants and caterers. There will also be a Whole Foods Market tent and a Food Truck Village featuring trucks from Bounty, Dough Girls, Fryborg, Lobstercraft and Melt Mobile.
For more information, visit GreenwichReindeerFestival.com, follow on Facebook and Twitter or call 203-531-3047.
