It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas – on light poles and
in store fronts in Bradford and East Bradford, anyway.
The downtown Bradford holiday season started off well with a
“fantastic” start to the shopping season at the Main Street
Mercantile on Black Friday, explained Main Street Manager Diane
DeWalt Tuesday.
“It was our best day ever,” she said. “The whole weekend we
broke records. We had five times the business we normally
would.
“They were shopping across the street and next door and all
around,” she added. She’s hoping the shoppers will continue to
flock to the downtown to partake in all the upcoming events and to
“shop Bradford.”
Free parking in the downtown and East Bradford districts has
been granted by Bradford City Council, and will last through the
end of the year to facilitate holiday shoppers and those attending
upcoming holiday events.
The holiday lights, owned and operated by the Bradford Area
Chamber of Commerce, are up and were officially turned on Nov.
25.
Christmas celebrations are already beginning in the downtown,
DeWalt said, and will really get under way this weekend.
The Mercantile will be a stop on the Bradford Landmark Society’s
Holiday House Tour from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, she explained,
adding that the Walden Brass Ensemble will play from 1:30 to 3 p.m.
at the store.
And, DeWalt said, the Jolly One himself will be making an early
appearance on Main Street as the Corydon Township Volunteer Fire
Department hosts breakfast with Santa at 11 a.m. Sunday at the
Community Center at 28 Main St. in Bradford.
Mr. Claus will arrive at breakfast in style – in a fire
truck.
But then, Santa will be busy visiting other communities for a
few weeks, and will make it back to Bradford again for the Hometown
Holidays event Dec. 16 and 17.
The Christmas music from the Main Street speakers will be coming
before Dec. 14, explained Diane Sheeley, executive director of the
Bradford Area Chamber of Commerce.
A sleigh ride will be sponsored by the Bradford Area Business
Group on Dec. 16 and 17.
On Dec. 16, Santa will be available for photos at JT Novelties,
which is now located in the former Archer’s store on Main Street.
WESB Radio will be doing a live broadcast and Christmas carols will
be performed by local singers.
Students Against Drunk Driving and the Cub Scouts will be
selling hot chocolate along Main Street. Visitors can check out the
local artwork, provided by elementary school students, that will be
displayed in storefronts.
On Dec. 17, the Hound Radio Station will be doing a live remote
with Santa and their hound mascot, “Santa Paws.” They will be
collecting new toys to be distributed to children who are in all
the area hospitals over the holidays.
Musical entertainment will be provided by School Street
Elementary School students in the gazebo.
The Bradford Family YMCA will be hosting a breakfast with Santa
at 9 a.m. Dec. 17. Twenty children between the ages of 3 and 8 will
have breakfast with Mr. Claus, and will be presented with a gift
and a photo. The event will end at 10:30 a.m.
Parents are welcome to stay with their children.
