By Dana Kroll, Uptown Marketing and Communications Specialist

We are thrilled to announce that our Season of Shop Hop has officially begun! As we speak, our entire district is undergoing a delighful holiday transformation. From garlands and bows to locally-rendered mural installations, Uptown is busily decking our halls…while our nearly 400 small businesses are in overdrive as well. Their window displays, holiday decor, and breadth of offerings are truly the best they’ve ever been. So this year, Support Local by visiting Uptown for holiday shopping, dining, and merriment, from now through December 24.

In addition to the aforementioned holiday wonderland to be experienced at any time over the next month, we have also planned one extra special day of fun, beginning at 3 pm on Thursday, December 2. We’ve got an unprecedented roster of district-wide entertainment scheduled that includes performances by the Grand Rapids Opera, Deos Ballet Company, Grand Rapids Girls Chorale, and many more, plus live art installations, ice sculpting, vendor pop-up shops, and more.

And now, without further ado, here’s a little more color, to get you in that Shop Hop mood!

Why Shop Hop? 

 

To Shop Local:

Uptown is packed with independently owned retailers, specialty boutiques and shops. Many carry locally sourced and/or locally made goods. Shopping local means giving unique and extra special holiday gifts while also directly supporting the community.

 

To Shop Easy:

Our district takes pride in our accessibility for all. We are easily walkable, and with lots of parking throughout as well, so you can navigate with confidence and visit again and again! An important note: While Uptown will not provide circulator shuttles to the general public this year, we are committed to creating a welcoming, safe, and accessible district for everyone. We have secured transportation assistance for those who need it, through Hope Network,  during the event on December 2. 

To Shop Jolly:

We are also home to countless independently owned eateries, bars, breweries, sweeteries, spas, service businesses and more, to ensure your entire experience while holiday shopping in Uptown is festive and extra fun.

We’d love for you to stay connected all month long, as we’ll have lots more to share with you over the coming days. The best way to do that is to follow us on Instagram and Facebook and to watch our Facebook event page and this blog page, for updates as we have them. Just some of what is to come – an official entertainment schedule for December 2, a few fun television interviews with Fox 17 Morning Mix and EightWest, some surprise guests with gift-giving suggestions and holiday entertaining ideas, and much more. If your curious about how your favorite Uptown business is participating in Shop Hop this year, we encourage you to reach to them directly. With nearly 400 small and independently-owned businesses in our district, we’ll leave it to them to fill you in on what they’ve got planned for you as they’re their own best experts! Consider reaching to them directly via their own channels, or peruse them collectively, on our digital business directory.

 

To a season of merriment, good health, and cheer, to you all!