Peter Shokeir | [email protected]听
Shoppers could very well lose their minds over the deals offered by local businesses on Friday evening and into the weekend during the annual Moonlight Madness.
Moonlight Madness is an annual shopping event that traditionally takes place on the last Friday of November and sometimes co-ordinates with Black Friday.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a really fun evening, and we鈥檙e happy to support it,鈥� said Pattie Pavlov, executive director of the Jasper Park Chamber of Commerce, which supports and co-ordinates the event.
鈥淲hy is it called Moonlight Madness? Because it鈥檚 at night. It鈥檚 just that simple, and the stores stay open much later than they normally would.鈥�
For local merchants, Friday鈥檚 Moonlight Madness event is often their busiest day of the year.
Many businesses expand this event to encompass the entire weekend.
鈥淚t used to only be where it was strictly on the Friday night, but I think a lot of businesses (knew) 鈥� and we were quite cognizant as well 鈥� that so many people are working the event at their various shops and businesses that they鈥檙e employed that they don鈥檛 get an opportunity to indulge in the savings,鈥� Pavlov said.
Carollers will roam about downtown, and Jasper the Bear will be out on the streets handing out free swag bags before crashing the party at various venues.
The Chamber will also be organizing Bear on the Shelf, where a stuffed Jasper the Bear can be found in one of the businesses participating in Moonlight Madness.
Anyone who finds the bear, takes a selfie with it and says where they found it will be entered to win a gift basket filled with Jasper the Bear merchandise.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just a little fun way of getting people going into different stores and that kind of thing,鈥� Pavlov said.
Beyond these offerings from the Chamber, Moonlight Madness mostly takes care of itself.
Some businesses will have beverages available or get customers to spin a wheel to determine what discount they can get.
鈥淓verybody does their own sale, whatever suits them,鈥� Pavlov said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 like a mall with a small-town feel that鈥檚 partially outdoors. It鈥檚 the only way to explain it. It鈥檚 a lot of fun.鈥�
A shuttle won鈥檛 go to Hinton this Moonlight Madness due to COVID-19.
As well, the Restriction Exemption Program will require shoppers to adhere to health rules while partaking in the offerings.
Check out Pages 2-4 and the back of this week鈥檚 51暗网 for sweet deals this Moonlight Madness, or visit the
