Left In Lowell

City of “Buy Local”

by Lynne at 8:56 pm.

The City of Lights parade and Holiday Stroll, the annual tradition the weekend after Thanksgiving, will once again bring Lowell a lot of fun events and kid-centered holiday treats. It gets bigger and better every year, bringing back the old favorites but also adding the Holiday Stocking Stuffer Scavenger Hunt, where you can bring your kids to the Historic Parks Visitor Center to get a stocking, decorate it across the way at the ALL Arts gallery, and then go around to participating businesses downtown to fill it with free goodies.

One of the reasons for all this festive fun is to get all of us to contemplate spending our gift dollars locally first, before heading to the mall-that’s-all-the-same. You might not be able to cross off everyone on your list, but you can head to the made-in-China parade knowing that you supported some made-in-Lowell artisans.

Every December, the local art and business community is my first stop. I try to find just the perfect gift for as much of my list as I can right here in Lowell. Besides the art communities, there are numerous downtown (and elsewhere) businesses that specialize in personal service and unique gifts…newcomers like C’est and Tutto Bene, old favorites like the Welles Emporium, and yes, even Monkeys (the jointly owned ice cream place) which now boasts a gift shop with wares from local artists and fair trade items. (Check it out if you can! Where else can you get a fair trade gift, and ice cream at the same time?)

So rather than a City of Lights, this season, let’s stay close to home and be a city of “Buy Local.” We can all contribute to Lowell’s economic success, and give our friends and family utterly unique gifts they can’t get from Macy’s or Sears.

The City of Lights festivities are on Saturday, November 28th, from 11AM to 8PM.

[Filed under Local Events, Local Arts Scene, Community, Economics] [link]

6 Responses to “City of “Buy Local””

Joanne Says:
November 27th, 2009 at 12:28 am
I hope the ice cream is fresher than what I got at Monkeys this summer - it tasted furry - when I told the girl at the counter she said “its supposed to taste like that” …. and I’m the tooth fairy….. if you can’t sell fresh product then you shouldn’t be in business
George Says:
November 27th, 2009 at 10:50 am
I agree that we should buy local. Give a gift certificate to a local restaurant, buy your cards and office gifts from a local merchant. Enjoy a Saturday downtown looking at the decorations and enjoy a coffee or light lunch. It is a nice way to enjoy the holiday without the rush of the mega malls and plazas. My family enjoy an outing to Lowell every holiday season for the aforementioned reasons.
Fran McDougall Says:
November 28th, 2009 at 7:28 am
The Festival Of Wreaths will be in the Masonic Hall today, directly behind Cobblestone’s. It is a fundraiser for the Lowell Transitional Center, “the shelter”. Local businesses decorated wreaths on display. They did aaaaa great job.
-b Says:
November 28th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Watched the lighting of City Hall and the Christmas tree over at the Brewery from the top of Christian Hill with my daughter while listening to WCAP, but did my part to “Buy Local” by taking a road trip downtown to get take out from Darhma Buns after the crowds were gone. Yum!!!
Pat Vondal Says:
November 29th, 2009 at 9:33 am
There was actually a great vibe going on downtown yesterday with lots of people and families with children enjoying the events, checking out window decorations, enjoying 25 cent hot chocolate, listening to local choirs sing on the streets. I think all the downtown stores benefitted. Participants in the City of Lights made it appealing to “buy local”…….and what a great way to run into friends! Congrats to the organizers.
Ryan Says:
November 29th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
I enjoyed the parade,,,although it seemed very small compared to the last one my family attended (2006).

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November 26, 2009

City of “Buy Local”

6 Responses to “City of “Buy Local””

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