COVID-19 is still making for uncertain scheduling, but the Downtown Aberdeen Association has set dates for its annual SummerFest and WinterFest celebrations.
“We have scheduled SummerFest for Saturday, Aug. 21, but that is tentative due to COVID restrictions. We will know more later,” said association board president Bobbi McCracken. “WinterFest will be held in some form again this year — it is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 4.”
Meanwhile, the association’s promotional efforts for downtown businesses continues.
An ongoing promotion is the sale of I Heart Downtown Aberdeen face masks. These were designed and printed by PNW Printworks and are being sold for $5 each at Harbor Blooms on Heron Street.
The association is also posting a downtown business showcase on its Facebook page every two to three weeks, promoting downtown businesses new and old.
“We contact businesses and ask for photos, both current and older if they have them, and an outline of their business — history, interesting items they have for sale, etc.,” said McCracken. “We began the year with Grays Harbor Stamp, one of our oldest businesses; the Tinderbox, one of the newest; the Grand Heron; and currently Affordable Appliance. We are purposely contacting businesses that are in the corridor as well as on the perimeter.”
In February, 18 downtown Aberdeen businesses participated in a “We Heart Downtown Aberdeen” promotion to encourage local shopping.
Quarterly, the association contacts all the businesses it has emails for and tells them that the first 10 to respond will then be the 10 businesses the association purchases $10 gift cards from. “We then post business names and some pictures on our Facebook page and for the course of one week, anyone that likes, comments, or shares will be entered to win one of the 10 gift cards,” said McCracken. “We use an app that randomly picks the names.”
Bette Worth said more promotions are coming and will be announced on the association’s Facebook page, facebook.com/aberdeendowntown, along with updates on the festivals.
