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Shoppers braved the cold to be 'Home for the Holidays'

| 26 Nov 2013 | 01:54
    Visitors took advantage throughout the day for the free horse and buggy rides traveling through the Village. Sean Giery and his team of Percherons, Mabel and The Colonel, were back with their mascot þÄúButch,þÄù who enjoys riding shotgun.
    Visitors took advantage throughout the day for the free horse and buggy rides traveling through the Village. Sean Giery and his team of Percherons, Mabel and The Colonel, were back with their mascot þÄúButch,þÄù who enjoys riding shotgun.
    Young volunteers for the Warwick Historical Society braved the cold weather to hand out a schedule of upcoming events. From left, Caeley Kardell, 14, Kailyn Ackerman, 9, and her sister Kendra, 14.
    Young volunteers for the Warwick Historical Society braved the cold weather to hand out a schedule of upcoming events. From left, Caeley Kardell, 14, Kailyn Ackerman, 9, and her sister Kendra, 14.
    Visitors crowded downtown shops and restaurants, many of which, like Fetch, were decorated for the season and offering þÄúopen houseþÄù events with free refreshments and special offers.
    Visitors crowded downtown shops and restaurants, many of which, like Fetch, were decorated for the season and offering þÄúopen houseþÄù events with free refreshments and special offers.
    Photos by Roger Gavan The Warwick Valley Chorale strolled along Main Street and Railroad Avenue, stopping at many of the shops and restaurants, singing traditional Christmas carols. Additional photos can be found online at warwickadvertiser.com.
    Photos by Roger Gavan The Warwick Valley Chorale strolled along Main Street and Railroad Avenue, stopping at many of the shops and restaurants, singing traditional Christmas carols. Additional photos can be found online at warwickadvertiser.com.
    There was free metered parking, which will continue throughout the season.
    There was free metered parking, which will continue throughout the season.

WARWICK — Although the weather was cold and blustery with temperatures in the low 20s, shopkeepers reported a respectable turnout for the beginning last Sunday of the annual celebration of Home for the Holidays in downtown Warwick.

The Warwick Merchant Guild and participating merchants had long been planning a bigger and better holiday 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 on Sunday was a festive event from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. And there was free metered parking, which will continue throughout the season.

Visitors crowded downtown shops, many of which were decorated for the season and offering "open house" events with free refreshments and special offers.

To get everyone in the holiday spirit, there were fun events throughout the downtown area.

The Warwick Valley Chorale strolled along Main Street and Railroad Avenue, stopping at many of the shops and restaurants, singing traditional Christmas carols.

And visitors took advantage throughout the day for the free horse and buggy rides traveling through the Village.

Sean Giery and his team of Percherons, Mabel and The Colonel, were back with their mascot "Butch," who enjoys riding shotgun.

The day also offered an opportunity for non-profits.

The traditional Angel Tree, for example, which encourages gifts for the needy, has been displayed on Main St. between Akin's Drug Store and Newhard's Gift Shop. And young volunteers for the Warwick Historical Society braved the cold weather to hand out a schedule of upcoming events.

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.

- Roger Gavan