By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
While the annual “Light Up the Night” event isn’t new to Burlington, there are plenty of new options for this year’s event.
The annual kickoff to the holiday shopping season is set for Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. in downtown Burlington. In addition to stores staying open late – with some offering bargains – there are prize drawings and free movie tickets.
New this year are complimentary horse-drawn carriage rides through the city, sponsored by area businesses and services.
“It’s an opportunity to come down to your local downtown and experience a magical evening,” said Burlington Menswear owner Shelly Leverenz, who organizes the event each year. “It’s for our community as a whole.”
The goal this year, Leverenz said, is to garner more participation – both from businesses and visitors – as well as pull the community together.
“We’re really trying to unite the businesses as one,” Leverenz. “We have more services and businesses than ever before.”
In addition to the shopping event, stores will be collecting non-perishable food items on the opening night of the Operation Burlington Cares Food Drive. All items collected will go to the Love Inc. food pantry.
More specific information on the businesses participating may be found on Facebook, by searching “Light Up the Night.” There are photos of the various businesses participating in the event.
Punch cards will be available for those walking the route. All businesses can punch the card, and eight punches gains a person an entry into the prize drawings. Leverenz said that most of the downtown businesses have donated prizes for the drawings.
Among the businesses taking part in the event are Burlington Flowers and Interiors, Bon Bon Belle Bridal, Allison Wonderland, Raw Salon and Spa, Rugan’s, Shy Violet, Zumpano’s, The Coffee House at Chestnut and Pine, Itzin’s Shoes, Flippy’s, Gabby’s Palace and more.
Drawings for complimentary movie tickets to “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” – the Harry Potter prequel – will also be held. Another movie favorite, Elsa from “Frozen,” will be at Burlington Health Foods for the duration of Friday’s event as well.
Burlington Area Chamber of Commerce Director Jan Ludtke said the Friday event is just the start of an exciting holiday season.
“We love it,” she said. “We’re ready. It’s exciting. The Light Up the Night is just the opening event.”
The city’s annual Christmas parade is scheduled for Dec. 2, with the theme of “Christmas Vacation.”
That event welcomes in Santa’s Chalet, where youngsters can meet Santa and Mrs. Claus during weekend hours, and starts the run-up to Christmas.
New this year will be an ice-sculpting competition, set for Dec. 17 in Wehmhoff Square Park. Mayor Jeannie Hefty confirmed last week there will be 17 different sculptors for the event, many of whom participate in Lake Geneva’s competition as well.
Hefty said it is her goal to have something going on in the city each week leading up to Christmas.
“It’s taking off, and I’m excited about that,” she said.
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