Holiday open house is now the Snowflake Stroll

In an effort to expand Main Street Amherst's annual Holiday Open House, the community organization has renamed it the Snowflake Stroll and set it for Sunday, Nov. 8 from noon until 4 p.m., as a way of bringing downtown merchants and the community together.

The goal is generate sales for downtown businesses, raise money for Main Street Amherst, and donate a portion of the money to the Amherst Food Pantry, and attract new customers to Amherst's historic downtown area. However, executive director Teresa Gilles is looking for businesses to take an active role in the event.

To participate, business owners must provide an offer or incentive valid only on the date of the event.

Main Street members can participate at no charge, while non-members mush pay a $25 registration fee. Businesses must be open during the four-hour event and the discount or offer must be honored during normal business hours that day.

Plus, each business must donate a door prize with a minimum value of $10.

Pre-sale wristbands went on sale on Sept. 1 and are available for purchase at the Main Street Amherst building, 255 Park Ave., or on their website at www.mainstreetamherst.org for $5 each. They will also be available for purchase the day of the event. Gilles said her goal is to sell 250 of them. To receive special discounts and offers, customers must wear the wristband as they make their way to participating businesses.

Gilles will display the discounts and offers on the Main Street website.

A final list will be published and distributed to customers as they register the day of the event.

Those businesses participating will display snowflake signs.

Businesses outside the downtown area can also participate utilizing tables at the Main Street Amherst building.

However, table space is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Contact Missy Timko, owner of 5 Corners Bed & Breakfast at 984-3084 or via e-mail at missy@5cornersbnb.com or Gilles at 984-6709 or via e-mail at exdirector@centurytel.net for more information.