Though Holiday Magic is scaled back this year, Upper Queen Anne merchants still plan to bring Christmas cheer to the Avenue with a more personal touch.
"We're going to bring it back to where it was when it originally started, which was in the stores," said co-owner of Blue Highway Games Brian Bennink and this year's Holiday Magic organizer. "Each store will have its own version of holiday magic."
Along with going back to its roots, the less extravagant Holiday Magic planned for this year reflects the reality of tough times for local businesses that support this event.
"It was a tough year for a lot of people. This takes pressure off merchants from a monetary standpoint, makes it simple and brings it home," Bennink said. "Each store is giving it a personal touch this year and we're reflecting the economy. At this point we don't have the money to do all the big things done in past years."
With a petting zoo, a puppet theater and other various Christmas entertainment, the event had taken on a cost of a few thousand dollars, according to Bennink. To light one of the trees along the Avenue costs $200 alone. Merchants have paid for 23 trees this year.
Despite the downsize on outdoor extravagance, Sabrina Rinderle, co-owner of Queen Anne Dispatch, maintains there will be as much holiday magic as usual though it might look different
"It's just it's very expensive and the merchants can't afford the usual Holiday Magic this year," Rinderle said. "So it's make your own magic."
But she wishes more trees along the Avenue were lit, and that maybe in the future, the community can help shoulder some of the financial costs of putting on an event like Holiday Magic - so that none of the trees on the Hill are left without lights.
"The feeling at the meetings is that these are things we love to do for the community, but we just can't afford it," Rinderle said. "The community doesn't understand how much these events cost."
Though these last couple of years have been extra challenging for small business owners, Rinderle notes it's never easy owning your own business and then managing the time and finances of keeping that business afloat, spending time with family and hosting community events like Holiday Magic.
After this year's event, Rinderle wants to get some resident feedback to figure out what to add or remove from next year's event. Either way, she wants to make the event more personal and focused inside the stores, too.
Customers will be encouraged to drop in to each of the participating stores where they will be treated to a combination of special deals, holiday drinks and entertainment from noon to 6 p.m., Friday, Dec. 4. And many of the 30 participating merchants will continue holiday specials throughout the weekend.
Rinderle's store got decked out in Christmas spirit last Sunday to prepare for the event, and her employees will be dressed as Santa's elves Friday night.
At Blue Highway Games, Girl Scouts will sing Christmas carols for a portion of the evening and at Queen Anne Books holiday mocktails will be served during Kerry Colburn's author signing of "Good Drinks for Bad Days: Holiday Edition." To see a list of participating merchants visit shopupperqueenanne.com.[[In-content Ad]]
