As Americans across the country take part in Small Business Saturday next Saturday, November 26th, Sierra Madre, which epitomizes the concept, will host Dickens Village as its formal kick-off of the holiday shopping season . Small Business Saturday is a day dedicated to supporting small businesses on one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year.
From 3 to 8pm Saturday, the downtown area will host special festivities designed to bring shoppers to the popular shops in the Foothill Village. Beginning at 3pm, there will be an opportunity for kids to snow sled and ride a choo choo train. Local artists will have their work on display and for sale in the “Art Alley” located at Renaissance Plaza. Local non-profit organizations and other vendors will have booths set up in the street at Kersting Court. Beginning at 4pm, horse and buggy rides will be available in a loop around a four -square block area downtown.
Alumni from the Citrus Singers choral group will be caroling at various locations downtown throughout the day. There will be a silent auction of living mini-Christmas trees decorated by local school children. Later in the day, shortly after dusk, the official tree-lighting will take place, also at Kersting Court. Santa, accompanied by the Sierra Madre Rose Float Association princesses from the 2012 Rose Float, will be available to listen to the wishes of youngsters, from 6 to 8pm.
Another highlight to the event will be the debut of the newly restored Nativity figures in the crèche. Weather damaged figures have been undergoing sanding, molding and painting since August, thanks to local artist volunteers from the Sierra Madre Friends of the Arts. Local churches have pitched in as sponsors of the project.
For more information about Dickens Village, visit the website at www.SMDickensVillage.info.