As the Greenwich Holiday Stroll Weekend celebrates its 10th year, this much anticipated annual event will expand this season to include Greenwich, Byram, Cos Cob and Riverside merchants. Providing fun holiday shopping and dining experiences for the entire family, the 10th Annual Greenwich Holiday Stroll Weekend presented by Whole Foods Market will take place on Saturday, December 1 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, December 2 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Another new element this year is a focus on giving back. Over 30 stores and restaurants will showcase a Greenwich-based non-profit organization to bring awareness to a special cause. The merchants will display materials and donation boxes and offer raffles and other ways for the community to support these organizations. Organizations represented include At Home in Greenwich, Putnam Cottage, Meals on Wheels, Breast Cancer Alliance, Greenwich Hospital, Think Greenwich and more. For a complete listing of non-profit organizations and merchants, please visit the event website, www.greenwichreindeerfestival.com/greenwich-holiday-stroll
This year’s Stroll will feature a Live Nativity, horse drawn carriage rides, professional ice sculpture demos, music and entertainment, children’s activities, a food truck village, live reindeer and photos with Santa, plus more than 140 Greenwich merchants and restaurants offering special promotions, refreshments and in-store attractions.
Everyone is welcome at the 10th Annual Greenwich Holiday Stroll Kick-Off Party to benefit Kids In Crisis, hosted by Vineyard Vines, Thursday, November 29, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. at 145 Greenwich Avenue. Twenty percent of the evening sales will benefit Kids In Crisis.
First Selectman Peter J. Tesei has issued a proclamation declaring December 1 and 2, 2018 as Holiday Stroll Days to encourage the community to enjoy the festivities and support local merchants this season. “For ten years, this event has offered a terrific way to jump start the holiday season for the community while showcasing our wonderful stores and restaurants for shopping and dining,” Tesei said. “I encourage the greater Greenwich community to support our businesses by shopping local.”
The participating retailers and activities and the non-profit organizations can be found on an interactive map accessed online at www.GreenwichReindeerFestival.com and by mobile devices. Saturday’s free parking is sponsored by Barbara Zaccagnini Real Estate and Greenwich Magazine/Moffly Media. Parking is free on Sundays.
Merchant Highlights
There will be many activities throughout Byram, Greenwich, Cos Cob and Riverside, such as face painting and arts and crafts at the YWCA, a mobile photo booth at Roller Rabbit, holiday-themed milkshakes at Gofer Ice Cream, trunk shows at Marcus and Richards and much more. Letter writing to Santa and a Santa’s mailbox will take place at approximately 30 different stores.
Live Nativity and Horse Drawn Carriage Rides
A Live Nativity will take place both days from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at First United Methodist Church of Greenwich, 59 East Putnam Avenue, featuring five live animals, including a camel. There will be a blessing of the animals, readings and carols and a Live Nativity photo booth throughout the afternoon. Two different complimentary horse drawn carriage rides will operate from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Carriage stops will be located at Fawcett Place and 53 Greenwich Avenue and in front of 409 Greenwich Avenue.
Ice sculpture demonstrations by professionals from Apple Ice in New York City will take place at 299 Greenwich Avenue from 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. each day.
Live Music and Entertainment
A live music entertainment tent will be located at 240 Greenwich Avenue, sponsored by Greenwich Hospital, and live music entertainment will take place at 3 Pickwick Plaza near the top of Greenwich Avenue, Balducci’s Food Lover’s Market in Riverside and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Byram. Performances by local groups, made possible by Entertainment Curator Barbara Occhino of BarbaraEntertains.com, will include the New Lebanon School, Grace Notes, The Pop Music Academy, John Cloonan, Barbara’s Serenade, CT Playmakers, Gypsy Moon, Larissa Friedenberg, PROJECT MUSIC, Laura Budzekek, School of Rock (distributing information only) and Charlie HappyLife. See website for schedule.
Food and Treats
To satisfy shoppers’ appetites, many of the stores will offer special treats from Greenwich restaurants and caterers. A Food Truck Village at 290 Greenwich Avenue will include Melt Mobile, Fryborg, Joey B’s, LobsterCraft and Three Little Pigs.
10th Annual Greenwich Reindeer Festival & Santa’s Village
And not to be missed are live reindeer and photos with Santa, carousel and train rides at the 10th Annual Greenwich Reindeer Festival & Santa’s Village at Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses, 437 North Street, just minutes from downtown Greenwich, Monday through Saturday, November 23 to December 24. Photo packages begin at $29.99 and include a Shop and Dine Greenwich gift bag filled with promotions redeemable at participating Greenwich stores. On Saturday, December 1, $5 from every photo package will be donated to Kids In Crisis and $5 from every wreath over $50 purchased at Sam Bridge will go to the organization. Reindeer ornaments made from recycled Pepsi cans by Kenyan artists will also benefit Kids In Crisis. Sam Bridge is closed on Sundays.
The 10th Annual Greenwich Reindeer Festival & Santa's Village is made possible by the following sponsors: Sam Bridge Nursery & Greenhouses, Whole Foods Market, Pepsi, Mercedes-Benz of Greenwich, Greenwich Hospital, M. H. Heaven Real Estate, Faces By Wells, Barbara Zaccagnini, AARP, Apple Ice, Coastal Eye Surgeons, Connecticut Dermatology Group, LeafFilter, David Lerner Associates, Inc. and Venture Photography. Community partners include Horseneck Wines & Liquors, Val’s Putnam Wines & Liquors and BarbaraEntertains.com. Premier Media Sponsors are Greenwich Magazine/Moffly Media and The Greenwich Time. Additional media sponsors include Jen Danzi, Westchester Parent, WAG Magazine, News 12 Connecticut, 95.9 Fox, Star 99.9 and AM1490 WGCH. This event was created and produced by TMK Sports & Entertainment, a Greenwich-based event-marketing company. For more information, visit www.GreenwichReindeerFestival.com, follow on Facebook, www.facebook.com/GreenwichReindeerFestival, Twitter, @ReindeerGwich, and Instagram, @greenwichreindeerfestival, or call 203-531-3047.