October 2008

Downtown Comes Alive

There is a crisp autumn chill in the air and with it comes a lively sensation in Downtown Chillicothe. Fall is a wonderfully busy time of year for many people and the office of Main Street Chillicothe is no different. This season we are presenting several different events and hope that you and yours will work them into your busy schedules!

Boofest will be making its annual Halloween debut on Friday, October 31st. This safety inspired trick-or-treat event allows our area youth to display their costume creations while safely gathering their sugary goodies in the downtown and surrounding business area. A must stop location is the Livingston County Library who hands out a free book to every little goblin and ghoul. Each year this event proves to be a big hit with last year totaling over 1500 children in attendance. Boofest would not be possible with the resounding support of local merchants, volunteers and emergency services.

If the hectic season makes you feel all quacked up, downtown is just the place for you! Ducks on Parade, Chillicothe’s own local charitable event, has taken over several downtown storefronts. We invite you to waddle around and take a gander at the elaborate creations of our local artists. All of the flock will be auctioned off at the Ducktacular Extravaganza on November 8th at the Fast Lane with proceeds benefiting over 30 area non-profits. Tickets to this unique event can be purchased at the Fast Lane and the Chillicothe Commerce Center.

As we all begin to deck the halls, we offer you a fun and enlightening way to add to your holiday décor. For the first time, Main Street Chillicothe presents Wreaths and Wits, a fun-filled dinner and trivia competition complete with a holiday wreath auction. Keep your eyes open for more information about this unique event in the coming weeks. You will not want to miss it!

The kick-off to the holiday season would not be complete without the beautiful lighting of the Historic Courthouse Square and adjacent area. Main Street Chillicothe is happy to announce that this year’s downtown lighting program has been enhanced with the addition of over 2,000 additional lights. As the holiday lights flicker on, the sounds of cash registers ringing begin to fill the air. This holiday shopping season, beat the gas prices and big crowds by shopping local and keeping commerce in Chillicothe. Our downtown merchants invite you to visit their stores and find just the right gifts for the loved ones on your list. Another great gift idea is the Murals of Chillicothe commemorative ornament. Our second edition ornament will go on sale at the end of November. We still have a few left over from last year, so shop early and start your collection!

To truly cap off the Holiday Season, on November 22nd the Chillicothe Area Chamber of Commerce will be presenting the 62nd Annual Holiday Parade. This year, Main Street Chillicothe is happy to announce their edition of Warming Stations along the parade route. We hope that you will visit one of our downtown street side locations for a toasty cup of coffee, hot cocoa, or spiced cider and a yummy treat.

Also on Saturday, November 22nd, Main Street Chillicothe is proudly bringing back Kids Christmas for the second year. This truly heartwarming event is housed in the Livingston County Courthouse Lobby from 3:30 to 5:30pm and is open to all area children. This event allows children to shop our local downtown merchants in one location with everything priced under $15! Not to mention the free gift wrapping and card making to accompany their purchases. Kids Christmas is made complete with horse drawn sleigh rides and is followed by the Community Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony with Mayor Chuck Haney at 6:00pm.

As things begin to cool down, remember that things are heating up in Downtown Chillicothe! We hope you and yours enjoy the autumn season and make Main Street Chillicothe events a must on your busy to-do list!

To learn more about the Main Street Program, both locally and nationally, visit the following sites: www.mainstreetchillicothemo.com and www.mainstreet.org.