(March 31, 2016) Merchants in Berlin put together a multifaceted Easter Celebration on Saturday that drew several hundred people to the downtown area.
The event came into being after the Berlin Chamber of Commerce moved its annual Spring Celebration back two weeks. As a result, shop owners in and around Main Street were concerned that customers, accustomed to coming Easter weekend, would have nothing to do.
“Because Easter was so early, the chamber of commerce decided that they would do the Spring Celebration on April 9, because the ‘Alice in Wonderland’ theme was such a big success last year,” Economic Development Director Ivy Wells said. “The seasoned merchants who have been here decided they can’t let the people who always come to Berlin during Easter weekend to be disappointed, so they put their heads together.”
Resulting from that collaboration was a well-attended Easter egg hunt at Commerce and Main streets, a special appearance by the Easter Bunny, a pancake breakfast at Rayne’s Reef, and various children’s activates based in or outside Berlin shops.
Steve Frene, from Victorian Charm, largely organized the event, and emceed the Easter egg hunt, where dozens of children hunted hidden treats in a makeshift field of straw.
“Congratulations to all the merchants who joined together to provide Berlin residents and visitors with a wonderful Easter celebration,” Frene said. “Children and parents alike were delighted that they were able to once again experience all the traditional Easter activities that they have grown to love over the years in downtown Berlin. Working together to preserve and improve time-tested events like this is a big reason why Berlin is so successful.”
Elsewhere, merchants, such as Treasure Chest Owner Terri Sexton, taught children how to make festive Easter bracelets.
“I’m very happy how all the merchants pulled together to have something available for the people who are used to coming to Spring Celebration that weekend, so that it wasn’t just coming to town with nothing,” Sexton said. “I was very overwhelmed at how many businesses participated to make there be something going on.”
“It was a really beautiful day, and everybody had a great time,” Wells said. “It was a very low-key Easter event, getting ready for the big Spring Celebration.”
That event, April 9, will include games and crafts, as well as screenings of “Alice in Wonderland” at the Visitor’s Center on 14 South Main Street. Characters from the book will stroll through town during the day. Additional activities will include a “Mad Hatter” contest, face painting, story time, moon bounce and live music by Ray Owen.
Wristbands, covering all activities, cost $5. For more information, contact the Berlin Chamber of Commerce at 410.641.4775 or chamberinfo@berlinchamber.org.
The event came into being after the Berlin Chamber of Commerce moved its annual Spring Celebration back two weeks. As a result, shop owners in and around Main Street were concerned that customers, accustomed to coming Easter weekend, would have nothing to do.
“Because Easter was so early, the chamber of commerce decided that they would do the Spring Celebration on April 9, because the ‘Alice in Wonderland’ theme was such a big success last year,” Economic Development Director Ivy Wells said. “The seasoned merchants who have been here decided they can’t let the people who always come to Berlin during Easter weekend to be disappointed, so they put their heads together.”
Resulting from that collaboration was a well-attended Easter egg hunt at Commerce and Main streets, a special appearance by the Easter Bunny, a pancake breakfast at Rayne’s Reef, and various children’s activates based in or outside Berlin shops.
Steve Frene, from Victorian Charm, largely organized the event, and emceed the Easter egg hunt, where dozens of children hunted hidden treats in a makeshift field of straw.
“Congratulations to all the merchants who joined together to provide Berlin residents and visitors with a wonderful Easter celebration,” Frene said. “Children and parents alike were delighted that they were able to once again experience all the traditional Easter activities that they have grown to love over the years in downtown Berlin. Working together to preserve and improve time-tested events like this is a big reason why Berlin is so successful.”
Elsewhere, merchants, such as Treasure Chest Owner Terri Sexton, taught children how to make festive Easter bracelets.
“I’m very happy how all the merchants pulled together to have something available for the people who are used to coming to Spring Celebration that weekend, so that it wasn’t just coming to town with nothing,” Sexton said. “I was very overwhelmed at how many businesses participated to make there be something going on.”
“It was a really beautiful day, and everybody had a great time,” Wells said. “It was a very low-key Easter event, getting ready for the big Spring Celebration.”
That event, April 9, will include games and crafts, as well as screenings of “Alice in Wonderland” at the Visitor’s Center on 14 South Main Street. Characters from the book will stroll through town during the day. Additional activities will include a “Mad Hatter” contest, face painting, story time, moon bounce and live music by Ray Owen.
Wristbands, covering all activities, cost $5. For more information, contact the Berlin Chamber of Commerce at 410.641.4775 or chamberinfo@berlinchamber.org.