Home for the Holidays begins Sunday, Nov. 24

WARWICK — It may be hard to believe but the beginning of the holiday season is only a couple of weeks away.

The Warwick Merchant Guild and participating merchants have long been planning a bigger and better season with a host of new ideas to encourage everyone to come on down, shop local and enjoy fun for the family.

The kick-off begins on Sunday, Nov. 24, with a downtown festive event from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m.

Free refreshments and special offers

It's the beginning of the annual celebration of Home for the Holidays and visitors will find most downtown shops decorated for the season and offering "open house" events with free refreshments and special offers.

And to get everyone in the holiday spirit, there will be various fun events throughout the downtown area, including music and song along with a Gingerbread House decorating contest.

The Warwick Valley Chorale will be strolling the streets singing traditional Christmas carols.

There will also be free horse and buggy rides traveling through the village.

And the traditional Angel Tree, encouraging gifts for the needy, is already in place on Main Street between Akin's Drug Store and Newhard's Gift Shop.

Thanks to a donation from Applewood Orchards, Peck's Wine and Spirits on Bank Street will be making and selling fresh apple cider doughnuts and warm apple cider as a fund raiser for the Warwick Ecumenical Food Pantry.

Home for the Holidays, which traditionally begins just before Thanksgiving and ends after Christmas, is an annual celebration designed to present downtown Warwick as a fun and convenient place to do all your holiday shopping. And the Warwick merchants want everyone to know that they offer convenience, quality merchandise, special sales, friendly personalized service including gift-wrapping and, in most cases a "wish" list to make things easier for gift givers.

Throughout the celebration other local organizations will be joining in to play music, sell refreshments, and bring holiday cheer to downtown Warwick.

Other days of note
Besides Sunday, Nov. 24, and during every weekend in December, free horse and buggy rides will available from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., courtesy of generous sponsors.

And Santa and his elves will be on hand from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14.

To help brighten up the Village, the Warwick Valley Gardeners will host its annual tree lighting in Railroad Green on Friday evening, Nov. 22, and the Warwick Fire Department will hold its traditional Christmas Tree lighting in Lewis Park on Friday, Nov. 29.

Lewis Park will also be the site of a Menorah lighting ceremony on Nov. 29, a departure from the official time because this year the first day of Hanukkah coincides with Thanksgiving.

For additional information call the Merchant Hotline at 987-7600.

- Roger Gavan