Celebrate the beginning of the holiday season in Downtown Alpena this Saturday, November 11 at the second-annual downtown Holiday Open House. Over thirty 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 & Such
• Free goody bags for the first 25 shoppers at Rusty Petunias Marketplace
• Warm apple wassail at Olivet Book & Gift plus specials on Christmas merchandise
• A broom making class at Illuminate Wellness
• New seasonal drink menus at Cabin Creek Coffee and Biggby Coffee
• Samples of Christmas teas at the Rabbit Hole

“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 DDA Executive Director Anne Gentry. “There are over thirty 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 & Gifts during the Open House.

The holiday season is one of the busiest times of year for our downtown shops and businesses. 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.

Grab a festive drink, enjoy the holiday décor, and get a jump start on your holiday shopping during the Holiday Open House. The event runs all day Saturday; please check each business’ hours. For a full list of activities, visit here: https://fb.me/e/16V8c8MSD

Participating businesses:

Alpena Furniture and Flooring
Art in the Loft
Bob’s Bullpen
The Bluebird Boutique
Bolenz Jewelry
​Cedar & Threads
​Colburn Outfitters
Emery Enterprises
Gliks
Harborside Cycle
HopSide Brewery
Lasting Expressions
​Local Basket Case
My Glass Wings
Myers Fashions Etc.
Noise & Toys
Olivet Book & Gift
Parallel 45 Books & Gifts
PIF Cider
​Prattscape
​The Rabbit Hole
Regalo Luxury Gifts
Rusty Petunias Marketplace
The Sanctuary Store
​Sweet Baby James
Soaps & Such
Thunder Bay Arts Council & Gallery
Thunder Bay Winery
Traveling Ladders
Yarns to Go