It’s the first year of what the Downtown Huntsville BIA hopes will become a long standing holiday tradition. It’ll also kick off Main Street’s reopening.
The First Annual Muskoka Market takes place in downtown Huntsville on November 27th and 28th. Vendors from all over Muskoka will line up along Main Street peddling holiday goods and foods, as well as their usual fare.
Morgan Richter, Manager of the BIA, says that after almost 9 months of Diggin’ Downtown, people are itching to get out to Main Street again.
“The timing of it is actually really important, and I feel like we’re gaining a lot of traction from our community,” says Morgan Richter, BIA Manager. “Not only is it for the holiday season, but our construction is ending for the season, and people are really, really excited to come downtown with their friends and families.”
Aside from the vendors, the market will feature a few outdoor fire pits. Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus will be present for photos from noon to 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 27, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 28, as well as every Saturday until Dec.18 from noon to 3 p.m..
On Nov. 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Richter says vendors will have affordable gifts for children to buy for their loved ones. At 7 p.m. on Nov. 27, the skies above downtown will be lit up with a 10-minute drone show.
“A hundred drones are going to leave River Mill Park and go up into the sky about 400 feet high,” says Richter. “You will see Santa Claus dancing in the sky, Frosty the Snowman. It’ll be a very winter-inspired and holiday inspired light show.”
River Mill Park will be taped off to allow for setup and takeoff, and the BIA asks that people avoid the park during that time. Ritcher says depending on how the show is received, drone shows could supplement or replace fireworks shows for other occasions such as Canada Day.
As a soft-launch to the holiday market, the annual Customer Appreciation Crawl is coming back on Nov. 25 after a one-year hiatus. Customers can fill out a stamp card at participating stores for a chance to win a gift basket.
Main Street will officially reopen December 1st. For more information on the event, visit the BIA’s website.