Northshore Magazine

December 2014

Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.

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Celebrate ne 108 nshoremag.com December 2014 photograph courtesy of newburyportchamber.org C Community Christmas North Shore towns offer fun-filled festivities throughout the holiday season. By Sarah Shemkus hristmas is the per- fect time to stop by your neighbors' houses with some cookies, toast the season with your coworkers, or maybe do some volunteer- ing with a local charity. In other words, the holiday season is all about community. The traditions of Christmas strolls, tours, and shopping nights grow directly from this communal spirit. These events go by many names, but at their hearts, they are about visiting with friends, sup- porting local businesses, and celebrating the season together. So if you're ready for some hot choco- late, carol singing, and shopping deals, check out some of the North Shore's best holiday festivities. N e w b u r y p o r t I n v i t a t i o n N i g h t s The event with perhaps the most cryptic name—after all, no invitations are required—Newburyport's Christmas celebration has been an annual occasion for more than 30 years. The concept was born when a group of retailers declared that they wanted to invite their loyal cus- tomers out to shop and socialize in the weeks leading up to Christmas, explains Ann Ormond, president of the Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which organizes the events. These days, Invitation Nights encompass almost every store down- town and in the Tannery Marketplace, for a total of more than 200 retail- ers, Ormond estimates. Participating stores include bakeries, boutiques, and bookstores, along with gift shops of every conceivable description. The eclectic Partridge in a Bear Tree has become renowned for the punch it serves for Invitation Nights, Ormond says. Many other shops also offer cook- ies, snacks, or beverages to shoppers as they browse. "Pretty much everybody gets involved in the spirit of the season," Ormond says. "It's a very fun atmosphere." The events have become so popular that some out-of-towners book rooms in nearby hotels so they can attend more easily, she says. And shoppers intending to enjoy dinner should make reserva- tions well ahead of time to ensure they get a spot. Though there are usually only two Invitation Nights each December, a third has been added this year. The dates are December 5, 12, and 19, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. each night. "Pretty much everybody gets involved in the spirit of the season. It's a very fun atmosphere."

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