BERLIN– Christmas is coming early in America’s coolest small town.
Planning for Berlin’s month-long Victorian Christmas celebration began during a recent Main Street meeting, and fundraising efforts could start immediately.
“A lot of good discussion happened at the meeting regarding this year’s Victorian Christmas,” said Main Street Coordinator Megan Houston. “We definitely want to keep the momentum of ‘Coolest Small Town’ going throughout November/December and make this year’s Victorian Christmas the coolest Christmas ever.”
Among other things, the committee mulled rebranding the event in order to tie it to the Budget Travel magazine honor.
“It still could have Victorian activities, but we were thinking of calling it ‘Coolest Christmas 2014’ or something like that,” Houston said. “We’re trying to think of new activities and new things to bring more tourists in for this year’s Christmas – to not let momentum fall off once it gets cold. There were a lot of ideas thrown around, but I think everybody agreed we want to use some sort of ‘Coolest Small Town’ spin on this year’s Christmas.”
Houston said 25 people attended the meeting, including local merchants and volunteers. Several Berlin restaurants donated food for the affair.
Last year’s Victorian Christmas cost the town $8,600. The committee will attempt to raise $10,000 to fund this year’s celebration.
Expenses include $3,000 for print and television advertising, $500 for a Christmas tree and holiday décor, $500 for a Holiday Arts Night, $1,200 for rack cards and brochures and $400 – plus an additional $50 per day – for special appearances by Santa Claus.
Horse and carriage rides could cost $4,000, plus an additional $1,000 if the committee extends the rides to the weekend after Thanksgiving.
“We talked a lot about fundraising and how we can get support and sponsors,” Houston said. “We did the math and basically we need to raise $27 a day. We talked about possibly doing a restaurant week to support Victorian Christmas, and possibly doing donation boxes year-round around town saying, ‘help keep events in Berlin free.’”
Brochure ads are sold for $25 each, and that revenue could offset most or all of the $1,200 estimated cost. ‘Weekend’ sponsors are being sought for the event.
“People could sponsor Santa for the weekend, or sponsor the horse and carriage rides for the weekend,” Houston said. “That would be a great way to help out.”
Main Street also handed out three annual awards during the meeting. Helen Wiley won “Volunteer of the Year” for her “outstanding dedication to Main Street.” Nest owner Dee Gilbert was recognized for sponsoring the garden outside of the Berlin Visitor’s Center and donating furniture to the interior, and Ta-Da co-owner Patty Falck was honored for “all of her time and ideas to help the Visitor’s Center,” according to Houston.
This year’s Christmas celebration will run Nov. 28 through Jan. 1.
“It’s never too early to start planning for such a big event,” Houston said.
For information on sponsorships, email mhouston@berlinmd.gov.
Planning for Berlin’s month-long Victorian Christmas celebration began during a recent Main Street meeting, and fundraising efforts could start immediately.
“A lot of good discussion happened at the meeting regarding this year’s Victorian Christmas,” said Main Street Coordinator Megan Houston. “We definitely want to keep the momentum of ‘Coolest Small Town’ going throughout November/December and make this year’s Victorian Christmas the coolest Christmas ever.”
Among other things, the committee mulled rebranding the event in order to tie it to the Budget Travel magazine honor.
“It still could have Victorian activities, but we were thinking of calling it ‘Coolest Christmas 2014’ or something like that,” Houston said. “We’re trying to think of new activities and new things to bring more tourists in for this year’s Christmas – to not let momentum fall off once it gets cold. There were a lot of ideas thrown around, but I think everybody agreed we want to use some sort of ‘Coolest Small Town’ spin on this year’s Christmas.”
Houston said 25 people attended the meeting, including local merchants and volunteers. Several Berlin restaurants donated food for the affair.
Last year’s Victorian Christmas cost the town $8,600. The committee will attempt to raise $10,000 to fund this year’s celebration.
Expenses include $3,000 for print and television advertising, $500 for a Christmas tree and holiday décor, $500 for a Holiday Arts Night, $1,200 for rack cards and brochures and $400 – plus an additional $50 per day – for special appearances by Santa Claus.
Horse and carriage rides could cost $4,000, plus an additional $1,000 if the committee extends the rides to the weekend after Thanksgiving.
“We talked a lot about fundraising and how we can get support and sponsors,” Houston said. “We did the math and basically we need to raise $27 a day. We talked about possibly doing a restaurant week to support Victorian Christmas, and possibly doing donation boxes year-round around town saying, ‘help keep events in Berlin free.’”
Brochure ads are sold for $25 each, and that revenue could offset most or all of the $1,200 estimated cost. ‘Weekend’ sponsors are being sought for the event.
“People could sponsor Santa for the weekend, or sponsor the horse and carriage rides for the weekend,” Houston said. “That would be a great way to help out.”
Main Street also handed out three annual awards during the meeting. Helen Wiley won “Volunteer of the Year” for her “outstanding dedication to Main Street.” Nest owner Dee Gilbert was recognized for sponsoring the garden outside of the Berlin Visitor’s Center and donating furniture to the interior, and Ta-Da co-owner Patty Falck was honored for “all of her time and ideas to help the Visitor’s Center,” according to Houston.
This year’s Christmas celebration will run Nov. 28 through Jan. 1.
“It’s never too early to start planning for such a big event,” Houston said.
For information on sponsorships, email mhouston@berlinmd.gov.