Community Corner

It's Time: Map Your Strategy for the 2013 Winter Holiday Stroll

Tonight is he 20th Annual Winter Holiday Stroll. Are you ready?

What's New This Year?

COOL MAP: Click here to goof around with the absolutely wonderful interactive map created just for the Holiday Stroll, with tabs for Events, Food, Logistics and Sponsors. You can bookmark it on your smart phone so that it's ready when you are.

SPARTANS:
 The Spartans Drum & Bugle Corp will lead the candlelight procession up Main Street this year.  Founded in 1955, the award-winning Spartans will elevate this year's stroll with a whole new level of energy and excitement.

At 5 p.m. the Spartans will lead the way from City Hall to the Hunt Building, where they will be joined by Rhythmic Revolutions, Nashua's new Baton Twirling Team, Santa Claus and Miss New Hampshire for the tree lighting. Members of the public are invited to join the procession.  Candles and programs will be available at information booths at City Hall and the Hunt Building. 

CHRISTMAS TREE: Speaking of the tree, make sure you enjoy this time-lapse video of this year's tree cutting. Tree, courtesy of Mary and Doug Elliot, who have a nice story to go along with the tree.

Be the Stroll

Well, sort of – volunteers are still needed, so if you'd like to try the stroll from the inside out, email Ali Manning of Great American Downtown at ali@greatamericandowntown.

What Else is New?

Glad you asked - Homes for The Holidays – A Gingerbread House Contest is also new, and being organized by the teen youth group of St. Philip Greek Orthodox Church in Nashua. Proceeds will benefit the Nashua Children's Home. Click here to learn how to enter your gingerbread house.

Will Santa Be There?

Yes, as mentioned above, Santa will make a grand entrance and then hunker down inside the Hunt Memorial Building where he will be waiting with candy canes and Mrs. Claus to greet all the good girls and boys – and those who would like to make sure they've made the "good" list.

What's This About a Scavenger Hunt?

Downtown stores and businesses have dressed up their store fronts for the holidays and created some special festive displays.  

Here's where the fun begins: hidden in half of the more than 20 participating window displays are little red Santa hats.  Print out an entry form or pick one up from one of the stores listed below and mark where you find the hats. Once your form is complete, you may turn it in to any of the stores listed below to be entered into a drawing to win a Downtown Gift Basket!

The scavenger hunt begins on November 21. Complete your entry by December 13th and you'll have the chance to win a huge holiday gift basket.  Winner will be announced on December 16th by Great American Downtown.

Participating Locations
Alphagraphics, 97 Main    
Beckonings, 221 Main    
Canal Art and Framing, 1 Water St    
Cardins Jewelers, 125 Main    
DesignWares, 206 Main     
Darrell's Music, 75 Main    
Fresh of Nashua, 178 Main    
FORTIN GAGE Flowers and Gifts, 86 W. Pearl    
Green Envy Salon, 124 Main    
Ikebana Flowers, 175 Main    
League of NH Craftsmen, 98 Main
MT's Restaurant, 212 Main 
Maison De L'Art, 57 E Pearl    
Myoptic, 204 Main    
NBT Bank, 221 Main    
Persian Rug Gallery, 227 Main    
Persona, 122 Main    
Results Fitness, 111 Main    
Scontsas Jewelry and Home Décor, 169 Main     
Studio Mark Emile,   69 Main    
Surf Restaurant, 207 Main
Triangle Credit Union, 110 Main    
Wine Not, 170 Main

Word to your Mother

And anyone else who might be inclined to bring the family dog to this year's event. Organizers are recommending that pets stay home – not only is is mighty cold out for our four-legged friends, but with the volume of humans, it's best to give Fido run of the house while you're out on the town.

Where to Park

Main Street and the surrounding roads will begin closing at 3:30 p.m., but several parking lots around downtown will be open during the Stroll: Elm Street Parking Garage, High Street Parking Garage (accessible from westbound direction and via Factory Street) and Southern NH Medical Center Parking Garage.

Take advantage of the ample free parking and free shuttles available from two locations: Rivier University and Holman Stadium. Shuttles run from 4:00-10:30 p.m.  Click here for more information about street closures and parking.

How About Entertainment?

There will be more entertainment than ever at this year's historic 20th Anniversary stroll, featuring something for everyone. You'll find a guide uploaded here listing every entertainment act and where you can find them.

Also back: 2nd Annual Stroll Jam Ski and Snowboard competition, brought to you by Zimmermann's Ski Boards and More in the parking lot between Santander Bank and Persian Rug Gallery. 

Click here for a spread sheet of all the scheduled entertainment.

Can I Get a Commemorative Ornament?

Limited edition Holiday Stroll ornaments will be available to celebrate the 20th anniversary of this beloved event.  There are three designs and they cost $10 each.  They can be purchased at Stroll Headquarters, 182 Main Street, from 11a.m.-11 p.m. on stroll day, November 30th.  Very limited quantities are available and all proceeds help keep the Stroll a free family event!

Bonus Info:

We just heard from Nancy's Diner, 25 Canal St., that not only will they be open during the stroll, for a hot meal in the comfort of their '50s-themed diner, but they will also be giving out favors to guests – and every 10th guest eats for free. So grab 9 of your friends and stop by. Odds are in your favor. Open until 11 p.m. featuring Italian sausage subs, fried dough and hot chocolate.

For daily updates, please like the Holiday Stroll Facebook Page or search #nashuastroll on Twitter.

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