John Griffin
Knowlton is dressed to the eyeballs in shiny trappings. Lampposts are swagged in pine boughs, artificial snow drifts against walls and shop windows glitter with enticing items for sale. All is carefully contrived, yet exciting like Christmas itself.
The eye of this consumer storm is Midnight Madness, a potent concentration of shopping and merriment on Dec. 14 between 5 p.m. and midnight in the stores of downtown Knowlton.
The entire event can be placed at the feet of Lucy Hoblyn, co-owner, with husband Danny McAuley of Brome Lake Books, and locals spark plug.
“I first thought up Midnight Madness in 2007,” she said recently, “with the goal of getting locals to go from store to store…. Then the town jumped in and it evolved into a huge event. “It’s our Black Friday, and a good boost forthe town, with fun and merrymaking for all, ” says Lucy.
Madness is not the only star of the season. New toys, unwrapped, that are dropped off at the community centre before Dec. 13 will be distributed the 14th at 10 am. The town has also conscripted the former, much-missed StarCafé / Sapin for tastings of local beer, wines and edibles. Other innovations include a mini-market at the United Church, with 12 artisans from Brome Lake and beyond.
On Dec. 28, at 6 p.m., the ever popular fireworks will be set off in Coldbrook Park, barring blizzard, in which case they will be litup the next night.
Bundle up!
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