WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) -- Wausau's River District is holding two different open house events to kick off the holiday shopping season.
Halloween's over meaning the holiday shopping season is just around the corner. The Wausau River District is ready to start that season with two different store open houses starting on Friday and lasting until Sunday. The first event is the Downtown Open House to give local businesses a chance to offer discounts for holiday shoppers and work together to start the holiday season.
Executive Director for the Wausau River District Blake Opal-Wahoske explains what some of the businesses participating will be offering from Friday through Sunday. "Evolutions in Design will be holding a promotion which will be 25% off. A couple of our other businesses are also running similar discount specials. And also the one year anniversary of our women's boutique Blackash Urban Goods, so she'll be having refreshments and live music."
He also mentions a contest is being held for those who attend the open house to win a gift certificate. "You take a selfie while you're downtown with the hashtag WRDholiday. You're entered into that raffle for a $100 gift certificate to a participating business."
This is the first year for an organized downtown open house event. Opal-Wahoske describes how the idea for the event came about. "We saw that there was a need to bring everyone together in unity. So that's where we stepped in and brought this event to fruition."
The Downtown Open House runs during normal business hours starting on Friday, November 2nd through Sunday, November 4th. The second holiday open house running in downtown Wausau this weekend is the 26th annual Christmas on 1st Open House. The event gives shoppers a chance to get their first look at holiday gifts in local stores on the near west side.
Opal-Wahoske explains what happens during the annual event. "That has a punch card to be entered into a raffle for a prize basket that will be about $400 and the businesses over there are also offering in-store specials and giveaways along with refreshments."
The punch cards are a big draw for the event over the years. Opal-Wahoske describes how the punch card works during the event. "They can pick up any of these punch cards in any of the participating business in the near west side. And it just requires you to go to each of the eight businesses, get a punch on the card. And then turn it into any of the businesses for a chance to be entered into that raffle for the prize basket."
Another annual part of the event is the participation of the Wausau West Key Club. Opal-Wahoske says the Key Club members are elves, helping the River District. "And they will be our elves distributing little holiday shopping bags with River District brochures and some candy in there. They'll be downtown on Saturday from 11 until 2."
Christmas on 1st starts November 3rd from 9 am to 5 pm and runs on November 4th from noon to 4 pm. Stores participating are on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Avenues. A free trolly is available on Saturday for those that would also like to attend the Downtown Open House.
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