Woodstock’s Uptown kicks off the holidays with a twist

With the holiday season in full-swing, winter festivities are underway all over the province. Woodstock, New Brunswick held a new event this year; an Uptown Holiday Kick-Off to promote local business while providing a fun event to mark the time of the year.

Woodstock has held events like this before. The Downtown area has held a kick-off of its own complete with vendors over the past few years; however, this is the first time that the Uptown district held their own kick-off. Michelle Partington, owner of the Living Strong Healing Center, envisioned the kick-off and brought local Uptown businesses together.

“In my head, I basically pictured a Hallmark movie,” Michelle said. “They do a lot for the downtown area but they don’t always support the uptown.” An event of this kind had never been done for the Uptown area. Local businesses in the rapidly developing Uptown didn’t get the same chance to interact with the community as the Downtown had. Michelle wanted that to change, “So we wanted to get everyone involved uptown who had a locally-owned business and get them out for midnight madness.”

There were vendors of all kinds, a photographer on site, warm food and cider, a row of Christmas trees for sale and even an appearance from Santa Claus. The place truly came alive as people strolled along the booths stopping and browsing the items for sale while chatting it up with vendors and friends alike. Even if they didn’t want to buy anything, the social aspect of the kick-off couldn’t be denied.

The kick-off had a social media presence with a Facebook live stream raffling off prizes and providing viewers with a chance to join in the fun from home. It took place in a REPS parking lot, with Christmas decorations and music helping to complete the setting. It was hard not to get swept up in the holiday spirit. The vendors themselves, consisting of everything from tarps and tables to the back of cars, were lit up with Christmas lights, ornaments, and a a array of holiday-themed items for purchase.

For local business, the kick-off both gave them a huge promotion, giving them a chance to sell goods and make repeat customers, and allowed them to join the community in celebrating the winter season. Unlike Woodstock’s Downtown, most of the Uptown was only recently launched. There had always been plenty of larger brands and chains in the area; but there hadn’t been a large local business presence until a few years ago. A kick-off like this wouldn’t have been possible until now whereas Woodstock’s historic Downtown had decades of tradition to its name.

Business owners like Katelynne Hayman, who creates custom crafts and items, was one of many in the Uptown area who proudly joined the kick-off. “Local people finding out that we can do custom stuff is really good for our business because then they’ll contact us looking for different things.”

The success of the kick-off ensures that it will become a holiday staple for Woodstock. Michelle has already requests from businesses that another kick-off be ready for next year.