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There is plenty to see, hear and experience to make Christmas merry and bright in downtown Brighton this season.
After a successful Holiday Parade at the Brighton Industrial Park on Nov. 19, the Brighton Downtown Business Improvement Association (BDBIA) is hosting several other events in the lead-up to Christmas for the entire family to enjoy.
The Brighton DBIA will host Santa in the Park at the Memorial Park bandshell on Saturday, Dec. 18 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Santa will be on the stage for photos and to take Santa letters from the children. Children will pass by Santa, with social distancing protocols in effect.
As well, the Brighton DBIA will host Christmas carolling in the downtown area with two vocal groups doing their part to make the Christmas season brighter. Carolling continues with the Vocalese
Community Choir on Saturday, Nov. 27, Saturday, Dec. 11 and Saturday, Dec. 18 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the Happy Harmony Choir will bring Christmas sounds to downtown Brighton on Dec. 4, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“I set it up every year, and it’s being going on for five years,” said Gina Boyd, owner of the g boyd boutique, of the downtown carolling. “They used to go right in the stores, but with COVID, they stand in front of the store now.”
Doing your Christmas shopping at the friendly merchants in downtown Brighton not only provides local shoppers with a great retail experience, but keeps the local economy humming. Shopping local is doubly important during the COVID era, noted Boyd, who’s a member of the Brighton DBIA.
“Oh, we sure do (need the support)…COVID hit us hard and we’re trying our best to stay alive. But that all falls on the shoulders of our locals if they’re going to continue to support us or sit at home and (shop) online,” said Boyd.
She suggests that purchasing gift certificates from the shops, restaurants or salons in the downtown area would go a long way toward making everyone’s Christmas bright.
Boyd is a big booster of the Brighton DBIA as all the members are friends who are working toward a common goal of seeing the entirety of the downtown area flourish.
“We all work so hard together. We are all friends downtown in businesses. We all support each other. We just need to keep it this way,” said Boyd.
Boyd opened g boyd boutique in August of 2009 on a hunch that people preferred quality European and Canadian-made footwear as opposed to that coming from China. Her bet paid off as she is still in business at her shop at 30 Main St. In Brighton.
“I said that I would give it a little try because I think there were more people like me out there that want good quality footwear not just crap on their feet and I’m still here. Everything is hand-picked and everything is really good leather,” she said.
She carries footwear lines from Portugal, Spain and Italy as well as from companies located in Ontario and Quebec. There are also a great selection of winter boots, along with accessories. You’ll also find handbags, clutches, wallets and jewelry from local and Canadian designers.
For more information, log on to gboydboutique.ca.
