COBBLE HILL — The holidays have come to Atlantic Avenue for the first time.
The commercial strip has this year been adorned with holiday lights that have never before hung there. The avenue’s BID is hosting a ceremony and a day of festivities to celebrate the occasion this Saturday.
The BID is hoping that the addition of holiday lights will draw more traffic to the local businesses in the area, said Josef Szende, executive director of the Atlantic Avenue BID
“Every year there are Black Friday sales and Cyber Monday, and the small businesses felt really shortchanged by not being able to offer those deals,” said Josef Szende, executive director of the Atlantic Avenue BID.
They don’t have the same national advertising budget.”
The new holiday lights are shaped like large 3D snowflakes and are hung along the avenue between the BQE and 4th Avenue, Szende explained.
The Atlantic Avenue BID has lined up a variety of activities and entertainment along the avenue for a Small Business Saturday event and holiday lighting ceremony which will both take place on Saturday.
The holiday lighting ceremony will take place at 5 p.m. at Clinton Street and Atlantic Avenue, but festivities will begin at 1 p.m.
A bus will be offering free rides along the avenue from 2:30p.m. and 7 p.m., two groups of carolers will be singing from 1 until 4 p.m., and Malamurga, a musical group from Italy, will also entertaining on the strip.
Many of the strip's retailers, including Circa Antiques and Sahadi's, will be offering special gifts and warm drinks during the event.
“We’re hoping the event will draw attention back to the community and reminds people that shopping local is a very important part of the holiday season,” said Szende.
