Black Friday in downtown Fredericton, is bigger than ever

Black Friday is the busiest shopping day of the year. The Regent Mall parking lot was overflowing with cars as shoppers did all they could to find the best deals. 

But others decided to avoid the crammed hallways, and the repetitive Christmas songs, heading instead downtown for their Black Friday shopping.  

Krista Rae Marketing and Communications Officer for Downtown Fredericton has been working hard to make this the best shopping experience possible. 

“Downtown Fredericton has a big day for Black Friday every year and it’s been building more and more every year!” she says. 

This year Downtown Fredericton has introduced new initiatives to draw in shoppers. One is the Downtown Dollar Blowout which took place the week before Black Friday. Downtown Dollars, which can

be spent at most downtown businesses, were sold at a discounted rate. 

“A lot of people came and got those last week and they’re out there spending them and getting extra savings today,” said Rae. 

Downtown Fredericton wanted to create a unique atmosphere for shoppers. To do so they hired the Calithumpians to carol and “spread a little Christmas Cheer”.

“We’ve been hired by Downtown Fredericton to do our Calithumpian thing which is acting the fool and doing parodies of popular songs, in this case Christmas songs,” says Will Pacey, Director of the Calithumpians.  

Pacey is glad to perform the occasion. 

“It makes you feel good and you know that you’re supporting the local economy too,” says Pacey.

 Rae and her team have also been promoting the savings through traditional and social media. Their strategies seem to have been a success. 

“It’s really great to see so many Frederictonians out, supporting all of these small shops and getting ready for Christmas.”