Valet parking, horse and carriage rides, and a Nutcracker Festival.
Those are some upcoming holiday offerings, thanks to the Westport Downtown Merchants Association.
For the 2nd year in a row, valets are available on Black Friday, then every Saturday at the Main Street and Elm intersection, from noon to 6 p.m. It’s $5 car (plus a tip!).
Horse and carriage rides return — thanks in part to the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce — on Saturday, December 16 (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.). Boarding is at Bedford Square. There’s a stop for warm beverages across from Serena & Lily, courtesy of the Westport Historical Society.
The only thing missing is snow. (Photo courtesy of WestportNow.com)
December 16 is also the date for the Connecticut Theater’s Nutcracker Festival (9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Christ & Holy Trinity Church’s Branson Hall will be filled with Nutcracker Tea seatings, a Sugar Plum Fairy, and a Snowflake Boutique with local businesses and artisans. There are 2 child-friendly performances of “Land of the Sweets” at the Seabury Center next door. Santa arrives (on a fire truck) at 9 a.m. to kick off the festivities. Click here for tickets.
Meanwhile, merchants are vying for WDMA “Best Holiday Window” prizes in 3 categories: national chains, independent retailers, and restaurants and cafes. (For inspiration, just look across the river at the west bank windows.)
Meanwhile, all of Westport wants to know: What about the lights?
The WDMA planned to buy new ones this year. Unfortunately, bad weather at another holiday event — the Labor Day Blues, Views & BBQ Festival — cut into proceeds. Lights are now in next year’s budget.
But here’s another light story — with a dark side.
A couple of days ago WDMA representatives went out to measure the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge. They left a big box of 48-foot lights on the south side, near the railing.
When they came back, they were gone. It took about 7 minutes for someone to steal Westport’s holiday lights.
Bah, Humbug!
Holiday lights, 2015.
Please don’t string those cold, anti-septic, white light beads across Main Street again. And DON’T do the same with arctic, surgically “I don’t care what anyone thinks” white beads that dismember the Town Hall Christmas tree. Someone in charge at the Marpe administration please look at the beautiful Bridge St. Bridge multi-colored lights for an example of warmth, friendship and welcome.
Yea! To David, hope the right people read this and do some thing about it….
Also a shout out to our Cheif of Police. He has stepped up his officers presence during this busy holiday shopping season to help move traffic along and keep visitors safe.
Thank you and don’t forget to shop local.
I agree with David and the staff at Dma. And the chamber we have great police and firefighters and parks and recreation staff and Dpw and town hall employees they all work very hard our town
Really, no budget for Christmas lights..uhm…..
Can’t Westport be alittle warmer and gentler ? I agree with the comments t about steril white lights !
You know it’s Christmas when . . . David Meth is bitching about how his preference for colored lights over white lights is not being honored on the town Christmas tree!