Downtown Blackstone, Inc. (DBI) has been full of activity this holiday season, successfully coordinating retail promotions and image building events.

The Second Annual Downtown Holiday Open House kicked off the season November 27. Following the Grand Illumination in the town park, DBi drew crowds into downtown by coordinating activities with the local merchants, such as carriage rides, choral groups, storefront decorating, and a drawing at the locally owned Bevell’s Hardware, where the premier model train and Christmas village were on display.  A “Win the Window” contest capped the event with 27 businesses contributing gifts valued at more than $2,000. The event highlighted the local shops while creating a wonderland sense of nostalgia.

DBI closed the holiday event season with the image-building Blackstone Christmas Parade on December 11.

DBI partnered with the Town of Blackstone, Chamber of Commerce, the Volunteer Fire Department and local businesses to organize 15 dazzling floats fit for marching bands, beauty queens, fire trucks and, of course, Santa.

Each event drew close to 2,000 people to downtown Blackstone, a fantastic turn-out to promote the downtown and its merchants. DBi has continued to get out the word by posting photographs and videos of the holiday events through Flickr and YouTube. Check out their Web site for a calendar of events and links to these media postings: http://www.downtownblackstone.org/.