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Small Business Saturday Kicks Off the Holiday Shopping Season



Signs of the holidays are starting to show everywhere. Unfortunately it has included long traffic delays on the Quickway because of shoppers trying to participate in Black Friday Woodbury Commons sales. At one point it even closed the intersection of the Quickway and Thruway due to an overheated car.


Not the kind of fun many locals are looking for, so a number of local communities have been offering the alternative to "Shop Small" on Saturday, with stores having sidewalk sales and showing off holiday clothes and gifts This has become an increasingly popular annual event. Both the Village of Washingtonville and the City of Newburgh promoted their Shop Small events One Newburgh sweets shop quickly announced "We're Sold Out!"


While lots of people were out of town for the Thanksgiving Holiday, the Blooming Grove Chamber of Commerce had already planned for busy and quieter times and announced a "Washingtonville December Holiday Market" for the entire month. There was a steady stream of shoppers strolling through the "ville" on Saturday, and the crowds are expected to come en full ensemble next weekend with the famous Washingtonville Christmas Parade, Saturday Dec. 3, which 'post-pandemic will be returning to Main Street this year. Meanwhile, some of the stores have really outdone themselves, like Mamba's Creations at Fulton Square, which has barely an inch left for their craft supplies, knitting creations, flowers and lesson program supplies. Her store's offerings frequently spill out even more surprises onto Fulton Square's wide veranda porch, "The Deck", along with other small businesses who participate in the Chamber of Commerce activities and display their goods during weekend special events. This lends a great feeling to the community feel of the shopping sprees.



Interior of Mamba's Creations in Fulton Square, Depot Street, Washingtonville

"The Deck" at Fulton Square


On Main Street there was a variety of attractive fashions displayed at "What A Girl Wants" on Main Street. The interior of the store has been designed so welcoming and fashionable that when you walk in you might think you were on Fifth Avenue in New York City.


What a Girl Wants


The Chamber of Commerce was also present with a brightly colored table in the Village's McLaughlin Square to help promote holiday shopping. They have organized quite the series of events to make sure the holidays are both beautiful and fun, including lots of shenanigans by The Grinch... who has made the storefront next to Mamba's his home base for the season. Santa may not have arrived yet, but his sleigh is already decorated and waiting for the reindeer and the jolly red man with jingle bells.


McLaughlin Square in the center of the Village of Washingtonville

Stay tuned..... a list of the Village's Holiday Events will be in the Courier Journal and updated regularly.

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