The Port Townsend Main Street Program is immersed in planning the holiday campaign to promote Port Townsend in the fourth quarter. The theme this year is “Make it Merry in Port Townsend!” …
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The Port Townsend Main Street Program is immersed in planning the holiday campaign to promote Port Townsend in the fourth quarter. The theme this year is “Make it Merry in Port Townsend!” and there are some distinctly Port Townsend ways to celebrate our town.
We encourage you to look here first to see what all our businesses have to offer. The campaign is sponsored by the Port Townsend Main Street Program, the City of Port Townsend, Kitsap Bank, The Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader, and KPTZ 91.9 FM.
We are marketing Port Townsend to the Seattle/I-5 Corridor thanks to an economic development grant from the First Federal Community Foundation, with matching funds provided by the Port Townsend Main Street Program, the Port of Port Townsend and Windermere Real Estate. Radio spots are playing on KUOW FM (Puget Sound) and KNKX FM (Tacoma and beyond); digital ads are running in Crosscut (statewide coverage) and the Tacoma News Tribune and Olympian. We will promote the fourth quarter in our local news outlets as well.
Individually-owned businesses Uptown and Downtown offer the personal touch and are a welcome contrast to anonymous chain stores or online shopping. Think about all the choices there are here with restaurant and store gift certificates, movie passes, books, unique apparel and accessories, unusual décor items, and local artwork. These are examples of thoughtful gifts your loved ones will remember long after the holidays.
As locals we are fortunate to have a unique mix of businesses to meet our gift, entertainment, and every day needs. These businesses depend on our patronage year-round, but especially during the low visitor months of the fall, winter, and spring seasons. December income is especially crucial to help businesses get through the first quarter of the year.
We sent out a survey to our business membership and one of the questions was, “Has your business returned to pre-COVID levels?” 63.6 percent of the respondents said no.
When you shop and dine here, you are a local hero — preserving local jobs with friends and neighbors. You are supporting entrepreneurship. You are conserving resources, saving gas, and being more green. There’s less packaging. And more imagination. When you explore Uptown and Downtown, you’ll find creative gifts difficult to find anywhere else.
And, of course, when you need a break and a bite, we have a great culinary scene with an amazing amount of choices for a town of our size.
Your local businesses here in Port Townsend will thrive and be here for tomorrow if you patronize them today.
Thank you for showing your local love this season!
The Port Townsend Main Street Program is working with local partners to give you plenty of reasons to stay in town over the holidays. Thanks to Cares Act funding, there will be a festival tent over Tyler Street Plaza during the holidays to offer social distancing space and a place to rest in between shopping adventures. You could also enjoy a to-go meal or coffee there.
Main Street’s helpers are decorating the downtown tree and the Haller Fountain area. We will add winter lights to more than 100 street trees in Downtown and Uptown, thanks to funding from the city of Port Townsend Lodging Tax Advisory Committee.
Nov. 27 is Small Business Saturday: Get a jump on holiday shopping and show your local love in town. Join us at Tyler Plaza under the heated tent for a swag-making workshop from 2 to 4 p.m.
Nov. 30 is Giving Tuesday kick-off, a chance for our community to support local nonprofits. Please support the Port Townsend Main Street Program during Giving Tuesday so we can continue to make beautification improvements in town.
The festivities begin at Tyler Plaza under the heated tent Saturday, Dec. 4. “Take & Make” ornament kits for the kids and a photo opp with the Kiwanis Choo Choo start at 2:30 p.m. until just before the tree lighting. Stay tuned for more info to come.
The annual Gingerbread Contest will be held at the Port Townsend Public Library. Tour the decorated store windows in town. Join in the “Winter Window Wander” activity (get details at ptmainstreet.org).
Thank you for contributing to our community’s prosperity and adding to our quality of life. For more holiday happenings, visit ptmainstreet.org over the coming weeks and follow on us social media.
(Mari F. Mullen is the executive director of the Port Townsend Main Street Program.)
