Our 3rd Annual Dickens Days Stroll was a hit!  Our downtown businesses were transformed into quaint, Victorian shoppes while Dickens’ characters joined shoppers strolling through the downtown.  Business owners were thrilled with the turnout!  Along with the festive theme, there were also crafts and activities for friends and families to partake in.  It was wonderful to see so many people come out to participate the event!  We can’t wait to see what is to come for next year’s Dickens Days Stroll!

WINNER OF THE $100 WBID GIFT CERTIFICATE WAS:  SUE ROBERTS of Westfield

Thank you to all of the participating residents, shoppers, and businesses.

If you have an additional pictures of the event, please feel free to e-mail them to us or share them on our Facebook page

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Westfield-Business-Improvement-District/199269456761897

Check out the article below for more coverage on the Dickens Day Village Stroll!

http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2011/12/post_260.html

Thank you to all those who came out for our Thursday Night Shopping and Grand Reopening event!  In spirits of the Holiday Season, many of our businesses in Downtown Westfield have extended their hours on Thursday nights until 8:00 p.m. to encourage shopping.  Shoppers were able to indulge with some tasty treats offered by some of the business owners.  Even Santa and Mrs. Claus came out for the event!  In addition to this event, we also wanted to highlight our first round of Best Retail Practices’ grant recipients and how much they have improved!  Remember “Thursday Night shopping continues until Christmas!”

Grant Recipients include:

- A Cut Above the Rest

- Performance Music

- George’s Jewelers

- Westfield Yarn and Thread

- Gaslight Gallery

- My Favorite Place

- Optimum Health

- The Hairport

Join us this Saturday, December 3rd for our Annual Dickens Day Village Stroll & Fezziwigg’s Holiday Faire!  Many of the downtown merchants will be offering special discounts and sales along with delicious treats.  Don’t miss your chance to win the WBID raffle!  Enjoy a stroll in and around the downtown, pick up a map of participating businesses and have your  map stamped.  For every 5 merchants you visit, you will get a chance to win the WBID Raffle Basket which includes a $100.00 WBID gift certificate!  click here for the official Stroll Map 2011.

The YMCA will be hosting “Fezziwig’s Holiday Faire” with over 40 “juried” crafters and a bake sale.

Below is a list of participating businesses in the stroll downtown:

Flowers by Webster/SimplySkin by Angela Grace
First Congregational Church
The Gaslight Gallery
World Peace & Bead Emporium
The Grape Crusher
Fast Feet
My Favorite Place
Marie Flahive Art Studio
The Seat Weaver
The Hairport
Miss Sweets
Central Baptist Church
WSU Downtown Art Gallery
VIVID Hair Salon & Spa
Truly Mine Card Shop
George’s Jewelers
Mina’s Wine & Spirits
Mama Cakes
Ezra’s Mercantile
New Horizon Bike Shop
Pilgrim Candle
Mayflowers

Enjoy a delicious Dickens dinner on Thursday, December 15th at the School Street Bistro located on 29 School Street. Dinner begins at 7 p.m. and  in between courses you will be entertained with a performance of “A Christmas Carol”.

So come in for a dinner and a show!

Tickets must be purchased in advance, $30 for adults and $15 for children.

For reservations, please call: 562-8700

Grand Re-Openings!  Join us as we celebrate the grand re-openings of the first eight downtown businesses to receive the Best Retail Practices grants.  A special evening of shopping will be held on Thursday, Dec. 1st, 2011 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.  Stop in and see their new look!

Here is a listing of the businesses to visit:

Westfield Yarn & Thread
The Gaslight Gallery, 24 Elm Street

A Cut Above the Rest, 37 Elm Street
My Favorite Place, 48 Elm Street
George’s Jewelers, 67 Elm Street
Optimum Health, 120 Elm Street, (closed due to special presentation, see our District Events page)
Performance Music, 126 Elm Street
The Hairport, 148 Elm Street

Come by and see how they have improved their stores and see the new merchandise!

For more information, please contact Amy Tosi, Music Director at

atosi@westfieldymca.org or ext. 308.

In spirits of the Holiday Season, many retailers and merchants in the Downtown Westfield area have agreed to extend their hours until

8:00 p.m. on Thursdays!!

Participating merchants include:

check back soon for additional businesses!!

The City of Westfield and the Westfield Business Improvement District will be sponsoring a “Free!” Small Business Workshop – “How to Market your Business with Little or No Marketing Dollars” – on Oct. 18th, 8:00 am – 10:00 am (Continental breakfast included), in the Westfield Athenaeum at 6 Elm Street.

Receive free expert advice from Adam Wright, owner of Advertus Media. To Register please call Patti at the WBID office, 572-1260 or e-mail us at:  patti@thedistrictwestfield.com.