ABOVE: Fairmont downtown business owners and representatives stand with their baskets, which will be given out Friday night during Merry & Bright. Back row, from left: Shaina Scheppmann of Jake’s Pizza; Glendon Olson of Good News Bookstore; Marsha Leschefske of Booj Boutique; DeeAnn Eversman of Dee’s Floral & Design; Kim White of Fairmont Awards; Amber Schultz of Sovell jewelry ; Sara Cyphers of D&S Trophies. Front row, from left: Alicia Darnell of Indulge Salon and Spa ; Lori DeWall of Lori Darlin’s Boutique; Denise Rouse of Giddy Up Boutique.
FAIRMONT– This Friday night, Downtown Plaza in Fairmont will be the place to be for holiday fun and bargain shopping as the annual Merry & Bright event will take place from 5 to 9 p.m. The event is organized by downtown businesses.
DeeAnn Eversman, an organizer of the event, stressed that it’s a downtown tradition and has long been known as the biggest shopping night in downtown Fairmont. It dates back at least 20 years and has always been held on the first Friday night of December.
While the event used to be known as Holiday Delights, its name changed just two or three years ago, but the purpose has remained the same: to generate business downtown while providing a fun and festive atmosphere.
Participating downtown businesses include: Giddy Up Boutique, Good News Bookstore, Aurora Books, Jake’s Pizza, Sovell Jewelry, Dee’s Floral & Designs, D&S Trophies, Indulge Salon and Spa and Indulge & Co., Lori Darlin’s Boutique, Booj Boutique and Fairmont Awards.
Eversman said that the businesses have been working on planning the event for the past few months.
Stores will be open late, until 9 p.m., and many will have special deals or door prizes. A lot of stores will also offer hot drinks, cookies and other snacks for shoppers.
New this year, the participating businesses will each be giving away a basket. Each basket is valued at $100 and will be filled with items of the business’s choosing. People can enter to win a basket at each participating store and the drawing will be held at 9:30 p.m. at the Fairmont Opera House. People must be present to win.
Another new feature this year is a medallion hunt. A medallion, which is a white snowflake that says “Merry & Bright” and includes the year, will be hidden somewhere downtown.
“Clues start at 5:30 and will be given every half hour in the participating stores,” said Eversman.
The lucky person who finds the medallion can bring it to Dee’s Floral & Designs and will be awarded $200.
Aside from fun and shopping in-store, Rick DeBoer will be offering wagon rides through the downtown area. Santa will also be walking around offering treats and new this year, the Grinch will also be prowling. However, rather than taking, he will be giving out $5 coupons to participating businesses.
The Fairmont Opera House will be showing “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” for free. Carolers will also be out and about spreading good cheer.
“It’s a fun night to go out and do some Christmas shopping and support local stores,” Eversman said.
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