MARBLEHEAD — Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Beth Ferris said this year’s Christmas Walk will be packed with holiday cheer even though COVID-19 precautions required redefining how the Walk is organized.
Traditional events centered around people gathering, including Santa’s iconic arrival on a lobster boat, are out this year.
But the Friday, Dec. 4-Sunday, Dec. 6 event will include an organized drive-by past the town Christmas tree in front of National Grand Bank, 91 Pleasant St. Ferris said the Friday, 7 p.m. drive-by will begin with participants assembling in the high school parking lot on Humphrey Street.
“We’re really going to miss the gatherings. But we are really being careful,” said Ferris.
Serving in her sixth year as Chamber executive director, Ferris said the Christmas Walk is a premier Chamber event marking its 50th year. Added celebrations to cap off the anniversary will be postponed, she said, to 2021, but this year’s Walk includes strong local business participation and guaranteed holiday cheer.
Roving outdoor carolers, some in costume, will perform along with a capella singers. Sign poles and store fronts are already decked out for the holidays and activities representing the town’s art community are planned.
“I love seeing the joy it brings people. This will be a lot of safe fun,” Ferris said.
Planning Christmas Walk is a year-round job embraced by the Chamber’s 300 members.
“We have a wide member variety ranging from service-type businesses to nonprofits: It runs the gamut,” she said.
Ferris credited Walk corporate sponsors National Grand Bank, The Lafayette and Coldwell Banker for their support and said this year’s Walk includes the “keep the cheer here” campaign encouraging holiday shoppers to buy locally.
“Every business has had to be on top of things, pivot, and use the internet,” Ferris said, adding, “Stores have been really innovative in finding ways to accommodate their customers. A lot of them are setting up shopping-by-appointment now. This is a season where people really want to do shopping or come in with their whole family. If they have one family in there then they aren’t often able to have too many more people come in, so they’ve done a lot by appointment.”
As the colder weather creeps up, those COVID-19 business models will stay consistent for local retailers. Restaurants, Ferris said, have fewer options available.
“It’s tricky for restaurants with the colder weather coming,” Ferris said. “I know a lot of them have invested in heaters and stuff to continue to have outdoor dining. That’s really been a great source of support from the town to be able to do that because the capacity for inside is still limited.”
Item reporter Daniel Kane contributed to this story.
