Moonlight Magic Kickoff

Annual Event Provides Opportunity for Business Promotions

(10/28/09) Moonlight Magic is here! This is that special time of year when Santa comes to Shelburne Falls, stores stay open late, and hundreds of visitors pour into town to take advantage of store specials, enjoy window displays, shop street vendors and watch the magic as 1800 candlelit luminaries come to life on the bridge and streets around the river.

You too have an opportunity to help the magic come alive - - This is a group effort to attract area customers to Shelburne Falls for exposure to Village offerings and for an enjoyable shopping night/weekend, and we are increasing the effort to promote spending in businesses on both sides of the river. But, we can’t make it happen without your help and support.

Here’s how you can ‘cash in’ on this gala celebration:

How Can You Benefit From This Promotion 
Moonlight Magic has been a successful retail promotion, and we want to make it even better for you this year. Village and area businesses can increase traffic and sales through these opportunities to get you name in front of hundreds of buyers.

• Your business promotion in a shopping bag with printed map/program. Include your business promotion (discount, special sale item, coupon etc. for the evening, weekend, or shopping season) Great for out-of-town merchants! Add a coupon good for the season, or contribute an item to include in the bag. We'll need 500 coupons or items by November 20 to put in the bag. Free for SFABA members.
• Contribute to the luminaries. Add to the magic of the evening and see your contribution extend candles across the Bridge and throughout the streets in the village setup by volunteers)
• Light the Village. Help defray the costs of lights in the Village. We want to extend lights and add stars across the river.
• Post your ad on a lamppost gift tag. A great promotion for a service business or out-of-town merchant! Your name on a colorful lamp post garland holiday gift tag for all to see throughout the holiday season. Choose your message. Give one in the name of a friend.
• Serve as a Sponsor. Help make it all happen – your name will be featured on the program and in advertising and promotion as a sponsor. Four levels available – free tickets to 12/19 Metropolitan Opera (first-come, first-served).
  
  
• Reserve vendor space on the street or Bridge. Feature your products, services or organization in a prominent space in the village for hundreds of visitors to see. Discount for SFABA members and non-profits.
• Participate in cooperative print/radio advertising. The advertising representatives will contact you directly.
• Village decoration contest.  Enter your business in the contest for best holiday window display. Visitors will vote for their favorites as another way to draw customers to your shop.

Moonlight Magic Details – The Holiday Shopping Season Opener

• Friday, November 27th, the day after Thanksgiving
• 4:30pm – 10:00pm.  We expect all merchants to stay open until 10:00 pm.  (some businesses say they do most sales late in the evening.)
• Lighting of the Village: 1800 Mole Hollow Candle luminaries decorate the sidewalks and bridges, a giant Christmas tree will be reflected in the river; Stars across the river and lights on the bridge tie the Village together.
• Bridge Street will be closed from Main St. to State St. from 3:30 PM to 10:00 PM to address past safety and space issues.
• Santa arrives in the Village about 4:45 pm and parades to his workshop at the Shelburne Senior Center.
• Free live music, pony rides and roving performers throughout the Village and cartoons for kids in Memorial Hall. 
• Auxiliary parking lots throughout the area served by shuttle bus.
• Free shuttle busses donated by Academy of Charlemont to transport shoppers across the river and to/from parking.
•  We will close the Iron Bridge to encourage additional foot traffic throughout both sides of the village.
• Street vendors throughout the village and by the Iron Bridge. Call if you are interested in being a vendor or performer.
• A shopping bag with printed village map and your business promotion distributed by participating merchants.
• Advance cooperative radio and newspaper advertising.
• A window decoration contest to see who has the best holiday window display.

How do I sign up?
Use the attached form to indicate your support and the promotions in which you would like to participate. SFABA members may have additional opportunities to promote holiday specials.  Call us if you are interested.

Return your order form with your check or MC/VISA information to the SFABA Office by November 9, 2009.

Many thanks for your support. With your help, we can launch the holiday shopping season to benefit your business!

For more information, call 413-625-2526 or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it '; document.write( '' ); document.write( addy_text97031 ); document.write( '<\/a>' ); //--> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it