Dickens Days in the District
Now in its 5th magical year, Dickens Days in the District is an exciting community-wide event inspired by Charles Dickens, his spirits & the Victorian Age. It’s a December of holiday house tours, teas, one-day festivals, theatrical performances, visits with Santa, lectures, readings, concerts & sparkling lights throughout The District, Westfield’s new downtown.
Westfield Dickens Days has become a tradition that continues to bring visitors to the Whip City from all over the region. From the new Lanternlight Parade that lights the Westfield Green to a wonderful community theatre version of A Christmas Carol to a SNOWFIRE celebration with cocoa cookies and the retelling of a new children’s book around a roaring Dickens Days fire will delight.
The concept of Westfield on Weekends is to present a series of signature events that reflect a theme that is augmented with a calendar with events that are produced by city non-for-profit organizations, institutions, businesses and churches. The scope and size of Westfield Dickens Days 2008 demonstrates a community working together.
Some of organizations who have helped to create Dickens Days events: The Westfield Business Improvement District (WBID), Westfield Athenaeum, Amelia Park Children’s Museum, Amelia Park, the Westfield Athenaeum Boys’ and Girls’ Library, Western Hampden Historical Society, the Westfield Theatre Group, the City of Westfield, and the Westfield State College Foundation and Westfield On Weekends.
For a full calendar of events click on “District Events” located on the side bar of our home page. For additional event infomation go to http://www.westfiledonweekends.org/ .
Ireland to Westfield. With all of the items in the store made in Ireland, Erin’s Own Irish Imports has a wide variety of items to suit everyone. From beautiful Irish jewelery, Belleek Fine China, handmade Irish sweaters, and Irish music, to Irish foods, soaps, and fragrances. Erin’s Own Irish Imports sets itself apart from the other businesses because of its unique products. If the wide variety of items in Erin’s Own Irish Imports isn’t enough, it has a comfortable atmosphere that always keeps it’s customers coming back for more. ” ‘Tis like shopping in Ireland itself!”
Well let’s see, we have our logo which can be seen on the beautiful banners within the District. We have the web site which we are glad you are visiting right now! We encourage you to browse the Business Directory which lists all the businesses within WBID member properties and hope you will visit the section on Restaurants, Retail Shops and Attractions and don’t miss the list of District Events! Remember if you are a WBID property or business member we are happy to post any special events you may be hosting!
Those who frequent the Downtown District have watched a cleaning transformation occur, the issue of trash is addressed on a regular basis, sidewalks are cleaned and gum removed, and in these winter months the WBID’s Clean Team can be spotted as they clear snow from the sidewalks and crosswalks throughout the District. They stay busy keeping fire hydrants and handicap ramps clear of snow and they worked with the DPW to prepare for the removal of the 3 ½ foot snow banks around the Green and down Main & Elm Streets.
This past fall the Clean Team was out removing graffiti from WBID member properties. Graffiti removal is just one of the services the WBID offers on an “as needed basis”.
What the WBID added to the holiday season was excitement…the focus was on building upon the wonderful holiday spirit that exists in our downtown community by…partnering with WOW to market over 40 Dickens Days Events, by adding additional holiday lighting to the Green, cleaning and decorating 13 empty store fronts in the downtown with art work from local artists both young and old…and by launching an exciting radio campaign about “the District Westfield” as a great destination! It was a great start!
Do we measure success…by the number of visitors at the downtown restaurants, the wonderful turnout at so many of the WOW events, or by the several emails from people in our community and others regarding our web site, the cleanliness of the downtown and the upbeat positive approach to marketing Westfield? As one Westfield resident wrote “Thank you for the wonderful radio piece about Westfield, I work in Springfield and every time I hear that radio spot, I feel a sense of pride!”
Do we measure success by the enthusiastic comments people have made regarding the art work and decorations in the otherwise empty storefronts, or by the positive reactions to the signs that read “This building isn’t empty…it’s full of opportunity!
Maybe it comes down to measuring success by the sheer number of people who have come forward and offered to volunteer their time and talent to the WBID because they believe in Westfield! Volunteers have helped with our Annual Meeting, Farmers’ Market planning, Windows of Westield Project, loaning art work, or offering urban planning expertise…and as one local man stated, “I’ll do whatever is needed…I am just interested in seeing downtown come alive!”