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Nov. 11: Chelsea’s annual Wine, Women and Shopping

(Chelsea Update would like to thank Maureen Tobin for the information in this story.)

Mark your calendars now for the 12th Annual Wine, Women and Shopping event that takes place on Nov. 11 throughout Chelsea from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Never is tradition so sacred and so honored as it is during the holiday season.  Whether it’s placement of the ornaments on the tree, baking the cookies that grandma always made, or opening one gift on Christmas Eve, tradition must be observed.

Nowhere is tradition more evident than in the City of Chelsea as it presents its 12th annual Wine, Women and Shopping event.

This November, Chelsea heralds the holiday season with a multitude of shops and businesses offering special activities like trunk shows, live music, free raffles, specialty menu items in the restaurants, and discounts in the shops.

This event, scheduled to take advantage of the holiday shopping season, also provides an opportunity for people to come together in support of the community.

“We’re very grateful to all of our loyal customers,” says Garden Mill owner Jennifer Fairfield. “Small business owners simply cannot survive without the support of the community.”

Wine, Women and Shopping is, perhaps, the embodiment of that community support. For each of the past 11 years, hundreds of shoppers, almost exclusively women, have descended on this historic town to shop, eat, hear some music, and sometimes see a play. 

With over 30 merchants and restaurants offering incentives, it’s easy to understand the attraction to this event. Shoppers can get their holiday shopping underway, while participating in a city-wide party.

“My sisters and I have our calendars marked for years to come,” says dedicated shopper Felicia Davros. “This will be our 5th year, with no end in sight.”

“If we wanted to just kick things off our lists, we could do that anywhere,” she says, “But this is so much fun. We shop, we laugh, we eat, we reminisce. It’s just a fabulous day.”

Of course, for many of the shoppers, the day doesn’t end there. Dedicated shoppers already have reservations at a local hotel or bed and breakfast.

“We just decided to make a weekend of it”, says Valerie Maxson. “Our first year we had a great time but felt like we had to leave before the party was over. Now we have a great day shopping, a delicious dinner somewhere, drinks and music at one of the pubs, and then spend the night in Chelsea. It’s one of my favorite holiday traditions.”

Shoppers will find many favorites when they arrive, along with a few new faces. Old friends like Bumble’s Dry Goods, La Maison, and Jewelry Set-in-Stone, will be offering a variety of specials, and new friends Artisan Knitworks and Old School Sewing will be on hand to introduce themselves to the community. As always, the Garden Mill will have a massage therapist on hand doing chair massages, and in recognition of Veteran’s Day the Garden Mill will offer a special discount to veterans and current military personnel.

In the spirit of the season, Wine, Women and Shoppers are invited to contribute non-perishable food items to the local food bank. Collection stations will be set up at the Chelsea Artisan’s Market located in the Chelsea Train Depot and at US ArtQuest. Visitors are encouraged to make a contribution of non-perishable food items, cleaning products, and paper goods, and while you’re there, sign up to win one of several prizes, including the Grand Prize of an overnight stay at Chelsea’s Comfort Inn, two tickets to the Purple Rose Theatre, and a $50 gift certificate for one of the participating restaurants.

All items collected will go to Faith in Action of Chelsea.

Gather friends and loved ones and plan to spend the day in Chelsea. You’ll find great deals on food, drink, and all kinds of shopping. “Wine, Women, and  Shopping is a success because a number of merchants, restaurant owners, artists, and business owners have worked together to make it so,” Fairfield says, adding, “We are fortunate to have a very vibrant and inviting community, and this event showcases that.”

Maps and brochures will be available throughout Chelsea on the day of the event.

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