Celebrate the Holidays in Downtown Beaufort
Main Street Beaufort has some great plans for holiday shopping and good old fashion family fun this year.
LaNelle Fabian and Beth Caron of Main Street began working on this holiday project several months ago. A few new things have been added to the list of events and these ladies are very excited about it. The events are sure to bring in a record crowd.
Small Business Saturday
With a national focus on shopping during the holiday season, Main Street Beaufort wants to raise awareness in our community on the importance of shopping local. Dollars spent in locally owned businesses have a tremendous impact on our community. These local monies create jobs, fund city services and provide for future development. Our small businesses are the backbone of our local economy.
The true spirit of the holiday season can be found when shoppers are truly thoughtful about what they buy and where they buy it. That is why Main Street Beaufort participates in Small Business Saturday every year for our local merchants. This event is geared to encourage residents to spend their money in our local businesses.
Small Business Saturday, being held on November 29th, is a very important event for local merchants. It is a way to raise consumer awareness of what our local businesses have to offer.
LaNelle, who has been the Executive Director of Main Street Beaufort since 2009, “It is our job to promote this event and bring the people into our downtown area to do their holiday shopping. We invite you to support our local small businesses and shop downtown on Small Business Saturday.”
Main Street Beaufort, USA, will be giving away free Downtown Beaufort Shopping bags to shoppers who stop by their table (by the Clock on Bay Street) and register for a chance to win some giveaways from downtown businesses. A live radio remote by 94.5 The Coast will add vibrancy to the streets from 10a.m. – 1p.m. Register your American Express Card at www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/Shop-Small/, spend $10 or more at a small business on November 29th and receive a one-time $10 statement credit.
Main Street Beaufort will be offering present wrapping during Small Business Saturday (for a donation). Small Business Saturday is also the first day that Beaufort-opoly will go on sale.
A Night On The Town
Main Street Beaufort, USA , also proudly presents the 28th Annual A Night on the Town! This celebration of the holiday season takes place on Friday evening, December 5, beginning at 6:00 pm, and ending at approximately 9:00 pm. A long standing tradition of the community, A Night on the Town is a mix of traditional and the contemporary.
This will be an evening with a surprise around every corner and a number of things that will entertain, delight and get you in the Holiday Spirit. The downtown merchants will stay open late to welcome regular and new customers with special treats and a preview of their large and unique selection of items for the Holidays. Make plans to come by and get a head start on your holiday shopping.
The evening also includes the City of Beaufort’s Tree Lighting Ceremony, entertainment by the Parris Island Marine Corps Band, choral and dance performances and a rumored visit from Santa!
Main Street Beaufort will also host the inaugural Living Windows Competition for downtown businesses. The public will vote for their favorite window during A Night On The Town.
Light Up The Night
Take your pick of holiday parades by land or sea in Beaufort. Join
Main Street Beaufort, USA, and the Beaufort Sail and Power Squadron on December 6th at 5:30 pm for the Light Up the Night boat parade on the Beaufort River. Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park provides the best view of the parade. The first boats will start arriving at the seawall at the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park by 5 pm. Boats will make three passes by the seawall. Hot chocolate will be available courtesy of The Greenery.
Beaufort Christmas Parade
The traditional Beaufort Christmas Parade will be held on December 7th at 3:00 pm through the streets of downtown Beaufort. Floats, bands, groups of walkers and personal cars and trucks are expected to participate.
For more information, contact Main Street Beaufort, USA, at (843)525-6644 or email director@downtownbeaufort.com.
Main Street Beaufort, USA
The Main Street program was initiated in Beaufort in 1985 and was created as a non-profit partner with the City of Beaufort. The program has contracted with the City of Beaufort for 29 years to perform services directly related to downtown redevelopment, such as promotion and advertising, business retention and recruitment, and design assistance, to name a few.
In 1989, Main Street Beaufort, USA absorbed the Merchant Committee, which had existed since the 1970s. The merger created a unified voice for small business owners in the downtown district while in turn strengthening Main Streets membership base. The former Downtown Association Board became Main Streets Promotion Committee, a group which continues to direct and coordinate special events, promotions, advertising and cooperative programs for merchants.
Beaufort’s successful Main Street program is based on the comprehensive Main Street Four-Point Approach to Downtown Revitalization, developed by the National Main Street Center of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. This strategy has generated a revived sense of place in historic downtown Beaufort and combines the following elements:
• Design
• Organization
• Promotion
• Economic Restructuring “Business Development”
These Four Points represent the Standing Committees that make up Main Street Beaufort, USA. Along with the leadership of the Board of Directors, the Standing Committees are comprised of downtown stakeholders including business and property owners, employees, residents and community leaders.
Each Committee is responsible for setting an agenda, which is influenced by the Boards annual strategic planning workshop. Throughout the year, the Committees work to develop, research,
implement and evaluate projects and activities that help strengthen the History, Culture & Commerce of historic downtown Beaufort.
To find out how to become a volunteer or supporter of Main Street contact LaNelle Fabian at director@downtownbeaufort.com or (843)525-6644.
