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Date: 12/6/2022
AMHERST – Amherst’s first annual Sip “n Shop Stroll will take place on Dec. 15 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Downtown shops will stay open until 9 p.m., offering complimentary beverages to shoppers. Five local restaurants will offer discounted menus, parking will be free, and from 6 to 8 p.m. horse-drawn carriages will pick up and drop off shoppers throughout the town, also for free. Visitors will be greeted by the songs of carolers from Amherst Regional High School (ARHS).
The event is made possible via sponsorship from the Amherst Business Improvement District (BID), along with PeoplesBank, which partnered with the BID to bring the stroll to reality. BID Executive Director Gabrielle Gould said that the goal of the Sip n Shop is to curate a magical evening for guests while also supporting local businesses and creators.
“We are trying to create a quintessential New England downtown stroll…This is something we want people from all the surrounding areas to come and enjoy. Make it a special date night, or a special father-son or father-daughter night, or come with your parents or buddies, you know? Let’s really make it a fun evening out, while supporting small businesses, artists and makers. This is about shopping super small and putting our money where it really makes a difference and giving back,” said Gould.
The brick-and-mortar businesses of downtown will be joined by independent businesses at the Makers Market, and all food will be discounted throughout participating restaurants.
“All of our restaurants will be open, and five in particular will be doing 3 for $35 price-fixed menus, so appetizer, entrée and desert for $35. We will have Muddy Brook horse carriages, two of them, going all through downtown picking people up and dropping them off in different locations, with carolers from our ARHS singing to them as they get brought around downtown. The Drake is opening its doors to a Makers and Creative Market, so we’ll have 14 different makers and artisans at the Drake to enhance and compliment our downtown retail…We’re going to have all of our snowflakes up and our Merry Maple lit,” said Gould.
The five participating restaurants are Bistro 63, 30 Boltwood, Pasta E Basta, Osteria Vespa and Hazel’s Kitchen. Los Angeles-native Crème Bru La will be offering desserts right outside the Drake. The Inn on Boltwood will be offering rooms for $99 for the night.
The event’s name comes from the complimentary beverages provided by stores, but Gould clarified that these will not all be alcoholic.
“We’re calling it a ‘sip ‘n shop’ because all of our retail will be open until 9 p.m., and they will each be offering a little ‘sip’ of something, which we’re very excited about…It’s a family-friendly event, it’s not all about alcohol. The sip is just a little something extra to throw in,” said Gould.
Gould emphasized that the night is more than just shopping and food; rather, it is a chance to spend time with loved ones and experience Amherst in all its holiday spirit.
“We’re really hoping to create a beautiful time and an experience for people to come down to Amherst, do their last-minute holiday shopping or gift-giving to themselves or family and really enjoy our downtown in a different way…and go have an experience, make a night out of it. Something that is super festive, super beautiful,” Gould said.