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Features include vendor huts, ice-skating rink, and live entertainment
EASTON, PA – November 25, 2020 – From idea to execution in just over one month’s time. Mayor Sal Panto’s vision to bring to downtown Easton a winter marketplace, like the ones he’s experienced in Europe, will come to fruition starting this weekend. And just in time to help support the city’s retailers for the holiday season.
Kicking off on Black Friday, November 27, it will run through December 31 on Fridays and Saturdays from noon – 8 pm, and on Sundays from noon – 6 pm. The Winter Village features 17 huts occupied by city retailers and restaurants, plus a synthetic ice-skating rink. The event takes place in and around Centre Square under the white lights in the trees and beneath the Peace Candle, which will be lit this weekend. There’s also a North Pole Hut hosting a variety of holiday characters, a skate rental hut, and an information hut. Live entertainment is also planned each day including performers, strolling musicians, and dancing troupes. Details can be found at www.eastonwintervillage.com
Created as the second phase of the city’s Business Recovery Program, the concept for The Winter Village in Historic Easton is to support Easton’s small retailers who have been struggling during the pandemic. The new outdoor attraction will encourage visits to Easton and holiday shopping at its more than 30 downtown retailers, all while observing social distancing and mask-wearing protocols. The project was financed (in part) by a grant from the federal US Department of the Treasury, under the administration of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Community & Economic Development, and the Northampton County Department of Community & Economic Development.
“I’m proud that our city’s new holiday event will bring shoppers to downtown Easton to visit our retail huts and many small business retailers,” Panto said. “The ice-skating rink is the jewel of the event and evokes memories of my youth when we’d ice skate in local parks around the city. My hope is that the Winter Village creates those same kind of holiday memories for local families and can become an annual event that grows each year.”
The Winter Village is being managed by the city’s event partner, the nonprofit Greater Easton Development Partnership. “In a normal year, GEDP plans a number of holiday events to bring people downtown, and those events over the years have become part of local families’ holiday traditions,” said Jared Mast, Executive Director of GEDP. “We knew we couldn’t gather the way we used to, but we still wanted to offer a way to celebrate the season in an outdoor, socially-distant way. We’re excited to partner with the City of Easton on this project, and hope the rink and shopping village become a new tradition for many.”
The event is made possible through the support of Home Depot, The Lehigh Valley Carpenters Union, and Bi-State Construction, and the following sponsors: North Pole Hut Sponsor – Dieter Brothers; Hut Sponsors: Fidelity Bank, KWM, The Morning Call, Northampton County, Platform Five, RMG Insurance, Square One, USA Architects, and W Graphics.
EVENT DETAILS:
Easton Winter Village Ice Skating Rink
The 40 ft. by 60 ft. synthetic rink is located in the 300 block of Northampton Street and is illuminated with strands of white lights overhead. The city is renting it from its manufacturer in Minnesota and plans to purchase it as a city asset that can be used every winter, and moved around to different neighborhoods in Easton in the future.
Skating time slots are at noon, 1:30 pm, 3 pm, 5 pm, and 6:30 pm. These intervals allow for time in between each skating session for sanitization, as well as staff breaks. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, only 30 people will be allowed to skate during each time slot. Masks must be worn at all times, including while ice skating. Social distancing must also be observed. All skaters must sign a waiver. Skaters under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian who can sign the waiver for them.
Prices are as follows:
- Free for City of Easton residents (state driver’s license or other state-issued ID required for proof of residency)
- $5 per session for non-city residents
- $5 per session ice skate rental, or bring your own
- Cash or credit card accepted
- All skating intervals are for one hour.
- Timed tickets should be purchased in advance online through EventBrite. A limited number of tickets will be available for walk-ups. Advance ticket sales are the preferred method for facilitating limited contact at the skating hut. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/easton-winter-village-ice-skating-tickets-130319770943
Winter Village Hut Vendors
- Ice Rink check-in and skate rental
- Information/Easton merchandise
- Knecht: Parts & Assembly
- Porters’ Pub
- NuHouse
- Easton Baking Co.
- BalloonWorks
- North Pole Hut
- State Theatre Center for the Arts
- 3rd & Ferry Fish Market
- 2nd Base Vintage
- Easton Outdoor Company
- Sweet Girlz
- Skeggy’s Axe House
- smARTivities
- The Quadrant Book Mart & Coffee House
- Rotating Vendors
- Common Space
- Boser Geist Brewing Co.
- County Seat Spirits
Opening Weekend Festivities
Carriage Rides, offered by Easton Main Street Initiative. Rides will be offered from 2-8 p.m. Nov. 28 in Centre Square. Admire the holiday decorations and twinkle lights on the 15-minute ride as the horse-drawn carriage winds its way through Downtown Easton. The carriage rides cost $40 and can fit up to four people in one party. Rides start from Centre Square and ticket holders should check in at the Carriage Ride tent in front of Crayola prior to their ride. Tickets must be purchased online in advance, and will be available to purchase at Facebook.com/EastonMainStreet.
Information provided to TVL by:
Tracey Werner
City of Easton Marketing Consultant
