The Union Downtown Merchants Association met Tuesday night at Graham Cash to finalize plans for this year’s Halloween Downtown set for 4:30-5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30.
Candy will be provided by participating businesses and organizations for children during that hour and following trick-or-treating on Main Street, the Union County YMCA will host a costume contest beginning at 6 p.m. The event also is being held in conjunction with the YMCA’s family-oriented haunted house.
The Union Area Chamber of Commerce and downtown merchants association encourage businesses to decorate, have their employees dress up and, perhaps most importantly to the kids, have a good supply of candy on hand so everyone involved can have a good time.
The majority of the night’s activities will be held on Main Street but association members invite and encourage all businesses and any groups or organizations that wish to participate to do so. In previous years, the City of Union, EMS services and elected officials have participated.
Any business or organization that wishes to be a part of Halloween Downtown 2009 should contact Renee Alexander at the chamber at 427-9039 or Scott Sandor at 427-0668. Both also can answer any questions about the event.
In other business at Tuesday’s meeting, the merchants association discussed the upcoming Christmas Open House. The association wants to be prepared with only six weeks left until the Thursday, Nov. 19, date.
Association members present discussed several aspects of the event to get the ball rolling.
“Open house is big,” said Rhonda Gregory of Timeless Treasures.
“It’s very important for us to get people in here and show them what we have,” added Beth Smith of Smith’s Jewelry.
Entertainment such as Santa visiting and taking pictures with children, downtown carriage rides and local dance troupe ensemble acts were discussed and, while nothing was finalized at Tuesday’s meeting, are sure to appear at the 2009 installment of the annual open house event.
Some time was spent discussing where each entertainment will take place downtown.
Dance troupes draw large crowds with parents, grandparents and others coming to watch their children or friends perform and the association wants to encourage those crowds to come downtown. They have traditionally performed on Main Street; however, that blocks space for the carriage rides.
Association members also broached the subject of having sponsors for carriage rides as in years past and if there were any ways to raise funds to help replenish the coffers after the open house.
Suggestions for the latter include getting “Shop Downtown Union” t-shirts with names of participating businesses/organizations on the backs. Businesses would be encouraged to purchase the t-shirts at an estimated cost of $5.50 for each their employees could wear to promote the event.
Association members also talked about bringing back Christmas ornaments depicting a scene from Union to sell as an event keepsake. Ornaments have been sold in the past in conjunction with the holiday event.
Adding new entertainment to the open house also was put to members to think about. Suggestions were made on adding a live Nativity and a festival of trees competition.
No plans are set in stone, but Gregory will have an example of an ornament and more discussion will be held at the association’s next meeting slated for Tuesday, Oct. 13, at Graham Cash.
All downtown merchants and anyone interested in helping with these community events are encouraged to attend and bring their thoughts and ideas.
Association members are excited about the upcoming events and know they can be successful.
“The economy is down, but I think if we try really hard we can have a successful event,” Gregory said.
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