From the annual Peace Candle Lighting to Breakfast with Santa, and a festive Easton Out Loud, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the holiday season in Easton.
This year, Easton Main Street Initiative will debut a new event - a Cookie Crawl and Downtown Holiday Open House. Get the details on the Cookie Crawl and all of Easton’s festive happenings this season:
Cookie Crawl and Downtown Holiday Open House
On Dec. 7, when you shop small and support local retailers, you’ll be rewarded with cookies! Find something for everyone on your list as you sample cookies at each participating retailer from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A list of participating retailers will be available closer to the event at eastonmainstreet.org/cookiecrawl. Pick up a Cookie Crawl map at any retailer with a holiday cookie balloon and Cookie Crawl sign.
Peace Candle Illuminator Auction
Want to flip the switch to illuminate the 2019 Peace Candle? The honor goes to the highest bidder. The Peace Candle Illuminator Auction link will go live on eBay on Friday, Nov. 15, and end Monday, Nov. 25. A link for the auction will be posted to Facebook.com/EastonMainStreet once it’s live.
Easton Out Loud
Easton Out Loud moves to the fifth Friday of the month to kick off Peace Candle weekend. On Friday, Nov. 29, participating retailers will offer events, specials, and music from 5-9 p.m. It’s a great time to do your holiday shopping. Families can make ornaments and write letters to Santa, and hunt for 1,000 candy canes that will be hidden throughout Downtown Easton (stop by the EOL tent in Centre Square for more info). From 6:30-7 p.m. enjoy the sounds of the Easton Arts Academy Select Ensemble in Centre Square. At 7 p.m. Mayor Panto, the Bachmann Players and the Big Easy Easton Brass Band will lead a parade to light the first Christmas tree at the riverside. After the tree lighting, grown-ups can join Santa at The Bayou Easton for a cocktail and selfies! Parking is only $1 after 5 p.m. in the city’s parking garages. More: eastonoutloud.com/upcoming
Stuff the Bus
The Greater Easton Development Partnership is partnering with Family Connection of Easton, Easton Area School District and Easton Area School District PTA for the Stuff the Bus promotion. The goal is to fill a school bus with new toys, winter wear and non-perishable foods that will be distributed to Easton-area children and families in need. Donations are being accepted now through Dec. 2 at the following Easton area locations: - Easton Public Market, 325 Northampton St. - Access Networks, 225 Ferry St. - Book & Puppet, 22 Centre Square - Crayola Experience, 30 Centre Square - Easton City Hall, 123 S. Third St. - Easton Police Department, 48 N. Fourth St. - Fulton Bank-Downtown Branch, 360 Northampton St. - Merchants Bank-Easton, 46 Centre Square (no food donations, please) - National Canal Museum, 2750 Hugh Moore Park Road - Families with children in the Easton Area School District can also donate directly at their child’s school. The bus will be in the community during Thanksgiving weekend. Find it in: - Easton Area High School before the Bonfire Pep Rally (4-9 p.m. Nov. 27) Centre Square during Easton Out Loud (5-9 p.m. Nov. 29) - Centre Square during the Peace Candle Lighting (10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 30) More: familyconnectionofeaston.org/stuff-the-bus/
Breakfast with Santa
Get your tickets early for the annual Breakfast with Santa to kick off your Peace Candle weekend. Two seatings will be available - at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 30. Enjoy breakfast, live music and photos with Santa at The Pomfret Club, 33 S. Fourth St. Tickets will be sold in advance only - $25 for adults, $14 for kids ages 2-12 and free for those under 2. More: 8:30 a.m seating: https://tinyurl.com/SantaBreakfast1 or 10:30 a.m. seating: https://tinyurl.com/SantaBreakfast2
Small Business Saturday
Get a jump on your holiday shopping on Small Business Saturday. Come to Easton early on Saturday, Nov. 30, to shop at your favorite retailers, then stick around for the Peace Candle Lighting festivities. Retailers will feature specials and promotions throughout the day. Shoppers will find unique gifts, food items, handmade treasures and antiques throughout Downtown Easton while enjoying the sights and sounds of the annual Peace Candle Lighting in Centre Square. More: eastonmainstreet.org/shopsmall/
Peace Candle Lighting
Enjoy a full day of holiday cheer on Nov. 30! Enjoy the sights and sounds of the season with live music, carriage rides, strolling street performers, ice carvers, pictures with Santa, and more treats to delight the whole family from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Kick off the holiday shopping season with Downtown Easton’s selection of unique boutiques and specialty stores. The event culminates with the 60-plus year tradition of lighting Easton’s Peace Candle. A parade with the Big Easy Easton Brass will make its way from the Easton Area Community Center to Centre Square, starting at 12:30 p.m. Families can also enjoy a moon bounce, trackless train rides, petting zoo and pony rides all day. Vendors offering warm beverages and tasty treats will be set up around Centre Square. Gingerbread houses will be on display from 1-5 p.m. at Third Street Alliance and then auctioned off in a silent auction fundraiser for the nonprofit. Participants can register at https://thirdstreetalliance.org/events, and drop houses off from Nov. 25-27. Families can also get pictures taken with Santa from 1:30-8 p.m. at Third Street Alliance. Local artists will also have make-and-take gifts, fine crafts, and jewelry available at the Handmade Craft Shows hosted by Unique Artisan Markets (10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 30 at the Grand Eastonian Hotel & Suites, 140 Northampton St.). More: Full schedule available at eastonmainstreet.org/peacecandlelighting
Free Holiday Parking Promotion
The City of Easton will again offer free metered on-street parking and surface lot parking during the holiday season. Free metered parking will start on Black Friday (Nov. 29) and include Nov. 30-31, as well as Saturdays and Sundays from Dec. 1-25 in Downtown Easton. The promotion does not apply to city parking garages.
Collectible Easton Ornament
The next piece in the limited edition Easton ornaments series features the 90-year-old Cottingham Stadium. The cost will be $20 (cash only). Other ornaments that were featured in previous years, including the Easton Peace Candle, Easton Bugler, Easton Farmers’ Market, and The State Theatre, can also be purchased for $20. The ornaments will be sold online at store.shopdowntowneaston.com and at the following locations within Downtown Easton: - Connexions Gallery, 213 Northampton St. - Mercantile Outpost (Easton Public Market), 325 Northampton St. - Easton Farmers’ Market (on Saturdays), Centre Square - Sigal Museum, 342 Northampton St. Proceeds from the sales of the ornaments offset the costs of Peace Candle Lighting. More: store.shopdowntowneaston.com
Gift Cards
Need something for that hard-to-shop-for person on your list? Grab a gift card to either the Easton Public Market or one for Downtown Easton at the gift card kiosk inside Easton Public Market, 325 Northampton St. The kiosk takes credit or debit card payments. The Easton Public Market gift card can be used at any of the market’s 14 vendors; the Downtown Easton card can be used at more than 45 locations in Downtown Easton. The Downtown Easton gift card and the Easton Public Market gift card can be purchased in select denominations online at store.shopdowntowneaston.com. Cards can be shipped to the buyer or gift recipient.
GEDP is a volunteer-driven, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization focused on nurturing Easton's economic well-being and cultural vibrancy. It encompasses Easton Farmers’ Market, Easton Main Street Initiative, Easton Public Market, Easton Ambassadors and PA Bacon Fest. For more information, contact Executive Director Jared Mast at 610-250-2078 or jared@eastonpartnership.org. Visit us online at eastonpartnership.org.
