Thanks to the Holliston Business Association, Holliston has had a great start to the winter holiday season for 15 years. The 15th Annual Holliston Business Association Holiday Stroll will take place on Saturday, November 26, from noon to 6 p.m. Member businesses and lots of local organizations will work together to make the season merry, with special treats and performances throughout the day.
“We’re so excited that the entertainment keeps getting better,” says Diane Marrazzo, who’s on the committee for the Holiday Stroll. “The committee works so hard to make this something that the town is proud to be involved in, and we do it because we want to thank the town supporting us throughout the year, and we keep trying to grow it bigger and bigger. We try to make it as festive and as enjoyable and as entertaining for all the denominations. It’s for everyone to enjoy a family day.”
Activity isn’t just happening in the center of town.
“New this year is West Holliston will be involved,” says Marrazzo. “BDR Automotive will have a touch a truck and remote car, and Bazel’s will do a special,” she says. This is the first time this plaza at 1574 Washington Street will be involved, she explains. The trolley will run there, and both the Happy Retriever and Grace Bicycles will have special activities taking place.
This year, the trolley is sponsored by Holliston Animal Hospital, Lamb and Associates,
The Holliston Reporter, and TD Bank, says Marrazzo.
For the second year, the Artists of Holliston Mill, at 24 Water Street, will open their doors to Holiday strollers. A number of small businesses as well as commercial and fine artists’ studios. You can find out more about the Holliston Mill at www. Hollistonmill.com, or like them on Facebook under Holliston Mill Artists.
Back to Holliston’s center, Fiske’s General Store will have a meet and greet with an alumnus of the New England Patriots. You can come down to get your autographed photo, and you can also swing by Fiske’s to meet local author Ted Reinstein for a book signing. Children will be able to build a jingle bracelet, and in Mary Greendale’s new plant store at the front of Fiske’s Craft room, they can “plant a plug” to start their own succulent houseplant.
At Upper Town Hall, activities will take place all afternoon. For the whole family, beginning at noon, Aspire Dancing will perform, followed by Anne Marie’s Dance Center at 12:30. Want to belt out a few? Try some karaoke with Mr. DJ, from 1-2 p.m., followed by Magician Eddie Raymond from 2-3 p.m. Also at Upper Town Hall will be Holliston in Bloom, an 8-Arch Bridge art show and the Holliston-famous Holliston Lion’s Chili, which will be there until it’s gone, so come in the early afternoon! Perhaps you want to help support the stroll itself? From noon to 4 p.m., you can take a look at the beautifully decorated and donated holiday trees in town hall. For the cost of a raffle, you have a chance to win one and instantly improve your home holiday display. Don’t forget to hop next door to the Congregational Church from 3-4 p.m., when local bell ringers will ring in joy for the season.
Kid-Centered Fun
All of the activities are family-friendly, but for Holliston’s youngest residents, there will be face painting at Upper Town Hall from 1-4 p.m., at Jensen Sheehan from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., as well as cookie decorating at sponsored by Vesta Real Estate in Upper Town Hall from 12-3 p.m., then Mike the Balloon Man (from 3:30-5:30) at the Grapevine, which will also host and children’s author Jenn Smith. Deborah Costine’s Nature Puppets will perform A Woodland Cinderella at St. Mary’s from 12-1 p.m. Don’t forget the Holliston Fire Department’s hands-on display of fire apparatus and equipment.
As for the jolly old elf, Santa will come down from the North Pole to make an appearance. From 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. he’ll be available for photos at The Henry Studio (proceeds help support K9 Cesh), and then Holliston Fire Department will transport him to the parking lot behind Holliston Public Library (where there will be activities from 12-4), where, at 3 p.m., Santa will read Twas the Night Before Christmas.
Don’t forget to stop by the town green and pet a few alpacas from Harvard Alpaca Ranch, and while you’re there, head on into Jordan Hall, where a number of businesses will be represented.
Some of the fun stuff planned by local businesses include dog training demos by the Happy Retriever (12-6 p.m.), a doggie rest stop by the Holliston Animal Hospital (11 a.m. – 2 pm.), free coffee and wine tasting at Central Café, free ear piercing with a purchase of studs at Holliston Jewelers, free hot pretzels at the Holliston Superette, beverage tasting at the Depot Package Store (12-4 p.m.), live music at Jasper Hill Café (12-5 p.m.), free 10-minute massages at Tough Love Massage (11 a.m. – 4 p.m.), raffles and giveaways at Holliston True Value (2-6 p.m.), mosaic demonstrations from 1-3 p.m. at Cheryl Cohen Mosaics Art Center, and reiki demonstrations at Red Phoenix healing (11 a.m. – 2 p.m.)
Soul Spirit Studio will also have a holiday spirit tree, where you can sign up to give a gift to make a needy child’s holiday dream come true.
If you’re hungry, don’t forget the chocolate sampling at the Candy Cottage (11 a.m. – 6 p.m.) and $5 lunch specials at the Holliston Grill. 11 a.m. -6 p.m. The Candy Cottage - Chocolate Sampling.
You can put a finishing touch on your stroll at 5 p.m. Listen for the sound of bagpipes at the top of Central Street, where the procession will begin down to Blair Square, for the treelighting ceremony. The Holliston Boy Scouts will be onhand making s’mores, and the Holliston Girl Scouts will have a singalong.
As always, there’s something planned for everyone. Be sure to come out and join the fun!
Issue Date:
November, 2016
Article Body: