By Councilmember Bob Kellar
The holiday season is one of my favorite times of year. Spending time with family, reconnecting with old friends and eating some of the best food imaginable always makes for an exceptional time. With the holidays fast approaching, many folks throughout Santa Clarita are already getting into a festive mood.
The holidays are also a time for gift giving, where loved ones, friends and colleagues exchange presents as tokens of appreciation, which means it is time to start checking off those names on your holiday shopping list. As someone who knows the valuable role retail plays in our City’s economy, I want to encourage you to visit our local stores and small businesses.
A great tradition we see every year takes place right in the heart of Old Town Newhall – the annual Sip N’ Shop event. Sip N’ Shop, which takes place this year on Saturday, November 18 from 2 – 6 p.m., is put on by the merchants of Old Town Newhall and is a lead in for the City’s Light Up Main Street extravaganza happening later in the evening.
Sip N’ Shop is an event for residents that not only provides a fun and friendly shopping atmosphere, but also the opportunity to connect with local business owners in Santa Clarita. Visit participating businesses in Old Town Newhall to enjoy great discounts on shopping. Shoppers will also be able to enjoy appetizers, wine and non-alcoholic beverages at this free event.
While you’re there, see the Walk of Western Stars along Main Street and enjoy a late lunch or early dinner at one of the excellent restaurants in Newhall. You will also pass the Redevelopment Block, where progress continues to be made on the City’s new parking structure and the Newhall Crossings mixed-use project. If you haven’t been to the area in a while, you will be amazed by the revitalization taking place every day.
Make a day out of it and stick around for Light Up Main Street, which will begin at 6 p.m. In addition to visiting vendor booths and seeing festive performances from local musicians and groups, you will also be able to take in the City’s annual lighting of a 23-foot-tall Christmas tree in front of the Old Town Newhall Library. Thousands gather along Main Street for the event, which is the highlight of the year for many Santa Clarita residents.
With all of the new things happening in Newhall, now is the perfect time to plan your next visit. The Sip N’ Shop never disappoints and is the perfect way to kick off the holiday season.
You can learn more about the Sip N’ Shop event in Old Town Newhall, as well as Light Up Main Street, by visiting OldTownNewhall.com or by searching for the events on Facebook.
Bob Kellar is a member of the Santa Clarita City Council and can be reached at [email protected].
