Staff Writer
HOULTON — It’s going to be a grooving good time for retailers and shoppers this July 3.
Organizers of this year’s Midnight Madness event have decided to wind back the clock to the days of disco and peace signs and platform shoes. Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lori Weston said the choice of theme was based on two things: how much fun it would generate and how easy it would be for others to come up with decorating ideas of their own.
“It’s going to be so much fun,” said Weston. “Just for me, on a personal level, because I remember it so well. It’s an easy theme to do for retailers — you’ve got peace signs, smiley faces and some of us have thrown out our bell-bottoms, but not everybody, and flower power and all that. It’s just an easy thing to do.
“And what a better year for peace and love and stuff like that,” she remarked.
Midnight Madness has been an event held to attract both residents and visitors into the area’s downtown and North Street and to promote shopping locally. Summer time usually generates a lot of tourist traffic for Houlton mainly because of the town’s 4th of July and fair events. Weston said the late-night shopping opportunity opens up social doors as well.
“This is a celebration of summer,” explained Weston. “The winter is over and it’s a great time to visit and shop locally for wonderful deals and really the socialization part of making that connection with the community. The socialization of Midnight Madness is just wonderful.
“Folks can stroll downtown — who otherwise don’t come to town that often — and see people who they don’t see,” she added.
This year shoppers need not be shocked by the styles of the ‘70s when entering local businesses. Weston said she’d like to see everyone take part and dress up for the occasion.
“Several retailers are in a contest,” said Weston. “If they use that theme, we’ll have judges out and about judging who will have done their store with that theme. Not everyone opts to be in that part of the promotion and that’s Ok and certainly the public is urged to come in their clothes from the ‘70s as well.”
Not only is it a great opportunity to shop and meet friends, it’s a great chance to get some free stuff.
Tim the Tune Man will be positioned in front of York’s Book Store in Market Square and he’ll be giving away numerous ‘70s-era items. The big prize is coming from the Houlton Fair Committee.
“The Houlton Fair opens on July 3 as well,” said Weston. “And they’re giving five $100 prizes of Chamber Bucks that can be spent during Midnight Madness, which is huge. Also, you can always count on the best doughboys in town from Sadie’s Bakery, that line starts early — there’s always great food, there’s kid’s games, and of course McGill’s Band kicks off the evening and the sales are awesome. We’ll have a shuttle bus again that goes right from downtown and we’ll take folks to any place they want to be that’s participating, and they’ll be maps in the paper that will describe who is open.”
The shuttle bus will pick people up on the corner of Market Square and Water Street and will be running for the entire evening.
For more information contact Weston at 532-4216.
