Head out for an evening of fun in Chestertown this Thursday, November 17 for the annual Ladies’ Night, sponsored by the Downtown Chestertown Association.  Shops and eateries will be open late with deals and specials for all – particularly the ladies. Many shops will be offering complimentary refreshments.

Get a head start on your holiday lists before the Thanksgiving rush, then grab some dinner and holiday cheer.

Mark your calendars for another festive local shopping day-Small Business Saturday, November 26.

The Downtown Chestertown Association is dedicated to promoting a thriving downtown community through activities that encourage locals and tourists to visit and shop locally.

www.downtownchestertown.org

Chestertown’s holiday season officially kicks off with Hometown Holiday on Friday evening, Nov. 25 as Santa presides over the Annual Kent County Holiday Parade, beginning at 5:30pm on High Street. This popular holiday event features marching bands, classic automobiles, various floats, and familiar characters such as Rudolph, Olaf, and the Grinch. Parade judges will award cash prizes to entrants in each category. Participation in the parade is open to everyone. If you are interested in entering a float or group, please email kowen@mainstreetchestertown.org.

Santa is scheduled to arrive by fire truck at the end of the parade and will visit with children in his house in Fountain Park until 8:00 p.m. Boy Scout Troop 130 will take pictures of children with Santa (donation encouraged), and sell hot chocolate.

Santa will see children again on Saturday, Nov. 26 from 11am-1pm and then on the following Saturday, Dec. 3 during the Dickens of a Christmas weekend. He will also be receiving children from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. on Dec. 10 and Dec. 17. Children will receive gift bags from Santa courtesy of Twigs and Teacups. For more information about holiday activities, visit mainstreetchestertown.org, email office@mainstreetchestertown.org, or call 410-778-2991.

Also on Saturday, Nov. 26, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the community celebrates Small Business Saturday by shopping in Downtown Chestertown. This nationwide event spotlighting independently owned shops and businesses provides an opportunity to reinvest holiday shopping dollars in the local economy and find some unique gifts, too.

Hometown Holiday is hosted by Main Street Chestertown and the Downtown Chestertown Association. Main Street Historic Chestertown Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization which is dedicated to preserving, enhancing, and promoting historic downtown Chestertown. The Downtown Chestertown Association (DCA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting businesses and professional services in and around Chestertown through activities that encourage residents and tourists to visit and shop locally.

It is time for Downtown Chestertown’s annual sidewalk sale, Crazy Days! The bargain shopping begins on Thursday, July 28 and runs through Saturday, July 30, with many stores carrying the specials into Sunday. This mid-summer tradition is sponsored by the Downtown Chestertown Association, (DCA).

Great deals can be found on everything from men’s and women’s fashions, children’s clothing and toys, jewelry, home décor, crafts, kitchen items, books, artwork, art supplies, pampered pet must-haves and even musical instruments. Shops will be open by 10 am and remain open until 6 pm.

Join in on the fun and wear a Crazy Hat! Shops owners are bringing back the custom of wearing crazy hats for Crazy Days.  You might just win some Chestertown Cash for your chapeau.

Restaurants are posting “Crazy Days” specials, the Animal Care Shelter for Kent County will offer hot dog lunches from 11 am to 3 pm all three days.  Girl Scout Troop 330 will be selling Sno Cones on Saturday. More sweet treats are on offer Thursday and Saturday with a bake sale benefitting the Coalition for the Homeless.  The DCA will be selling beer and cider Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, and handing out free popcorn all 3 days.

Your Downtown Chestertown independent businesses look forward to seeing you – and happy shopping!

The Downtown Chestertown Association (DCA) is a non-profit, member based organization dedicated to promoting businesses and professional services in and around Chestertown through activities that encourage residents and tourists to visit and shop locally. https://www.downtownchestertown.org/

Head out for an evening of fun in Chestertown this Thursday, November 18 for the annual Ladies’ Night, sponsored by the Downtown Chestertown Association.  Shops and eateries will be open late with deals and specials for all – particularly the ladies.

Shops are all focused on creating a safe and enjoyable experience so you can get a head start on your holiday lists before the Thanksgiving rush. Participating shops include Bee Crafty Collectibles, Bookplate, Coco’s, Houston’s Dockside Emporium, Les Poissons Gallery, Mimi’s Closet, Riverside Unique, The Finishing Touch, Twigs & Teacups, Walnut & Wool.

Do not forget to stop in for a bite to eat and cheer! Bad Alfred’s Distilling, Casa Carmen, The Kitchen, Zelda’s and 98 Cannon are all offering Ladies Night specials.

Mark your calendars for another festive local shopping day-Small Business Saturday, November 27, and the arrival of Santa!

Downtown Chestertown shops, restaurants and galleries are looking forward to seeing everyone this Easter weekend.  Businesses will be open late, until at least 7 pm, in celebration of April 2, First Friday. In addition, the Downtown Chestertown Association is hosting an Easter Eggscapade.  Kids of all ages can enjoy hunting for treasure filled eggs at shops both Friday and Saturday. Participants include Bad Alfred’s Distillery, Bee Crafty, Bookplate, Chester River Soaperie(in the Farmers’ Market), Coco’s Pet Center, Houston’s Dockside Emporium, Les Poissons Gallery, Riverside Unique, Sarah Paige Studio Salon, The Finishing Touch, Tish Fine Art Plus, and Twigs & Teacups. As the Easter Bunny can be crafty, it pays to look around outside the shops as well. There might be some eggs hiding along the sidewalks.

Businesses ask that everyone practice corona courtesies inside and outside of the shops – masks and social distancing, please. In the interest of community health and safety, no complimentary refreshments will be offered on First Friday.

Downtown Chestertown looks forward to seeing you this First Friday and over the Easter weekend. Shop local and shop safe. https://www.downtownchestertown.org/

Downtown Chestertown invites the community to join them in honoring Black history this First Friday, February 5 and throughout the month with creative and educational displays and exhibits. As usual, shops and galleries will have extended hours on First Friday, February 5.

Notable displays include the following: Sumner Hall has assembled an exhibit in the windows of The Historical Society of Kent County themed, “A Generational Struggle for Racial Justice,” which depicts images from the Civil Rights Era to the modern-day Black Lives Matter movement.  The Artists’ Gallery is featuring Evie Baskin’s silverpoint portrait of Frederick Douglass. Bob Ortiz has assembled an exhibit tracing the African American roots of his DNA using data he received from 23 AND Me, and in addition will show the design of the mural painted by local artists Fredy Granillo and Vanna Ramirez which will be hung at the Old Mill Shops.

In addition, the Downtown Chestertown Association (DCA) is posting daily Black history items of interest on social media: notable artists, athletes, local businesses, politicians, history makers.
https://www.facebook.com/downtownchestertown. Please share!

Downtown Chestertown welcomes you First Friday and every day. Shop local and shop safe.

The Downtown Chestertown Association is offering Chestertown Cash for the holiday season in coordination with the State of Maryland’s Shop Maryland for the Holidays program and the national Shop Small effort.  The certificates are redeemable at the more than 30 participating shops and businesses in Downtown and Greater Chestertown displaying the Chestertown Cash Welcome Here sign.

The local premium: For every $100 spent at your local independent business, $68 remains in the community, vs. $48 for chain stores and $0 when shopping online. Local shop owners employ your neighbor, buy goods locally, and support local charitable organizations. These added dollars circulate in the local economy and translate into more jobs and economic activity.

Chestertown Cash certificates are available at The Finishing Touch, 311 High Street in Chestertown  410-778-5292, and online at https://www.downtownchestertown.org/. For more information, email downtownchestertown@gmail.com.