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After Parade Day Activity Community Input

The Maple Hill Holiday Parade is scheduled for Saturday, November 19 at 11 a.m.  The parade will feature an after-parade community event designed to celebrate the greater Kalamazoo area and to encourage people to explore all the great things to do outdoors, downtown. This is a retail and restaurant driven event and the purpose is to support local businesses and celebrate families and the joy of the holidays. 

There are several ways to participate and support after parade activities. A group of retailers recently met to outline event ideas for 2022.  This participation form reflects those ideas and recommendations by downtown businesses for an after parade day experience that will provide entertainment, engagement, and a way to shop and eat downtown. 

The events are free for downtown business to participate in, but will require each participating business to invest in the success of the event by having their participation be relevant to the goal of the event - participant experience and learning about downtown and building event traditions.

Once your business signs up for an event activity, it is possible that communication about that event will require additional information specific to your businesses contribution to the event (offering a discount, an activity, or a way to engage the attendees.)

As part of our partnership in hosting these after parade day activities, we hope that all participating businesses support social media promotion and staff preparation for a great day that presents the best customer experience. 

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* 1. Cherri's  Chocol'art Willy Wonka Bars will be available for purchase this year and will be promoted in the after parade day activities promotion. This will be coordinated through Cherri Emery.  Please identify if you are interested in participating in this program. Communication and coordination will be through Cherri's Chocol'art. 

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* 2. The Elf on the Shelf Bingo Card is coming back.  Participation as an "elf on the shelf" location requires the use of the "elf" and the willingness to place the elf in a unique location where kids can find it.  When they find it, they will interact with your employee team to get a stamp on the card box that features your business name.  This will require you to be open during the time of the event. If is possible that each participating store will be asked to donate a "trinket" from your store for a series of "prize" baskets to completed bingo card winners.

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* 3. The recommendation from the meeting was that all of downtown should be hosting some promotion or sale type of event to encourage people to come downtown and enjoy, for restaurants it would be a discount or special menu item. The coupon is up to each store. Promotion of participation would be a listing of stores or restaurants that are offering a promotional program.

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* 4. One of the new events for 2022 is hosting interactive business tents on the Kalamazoo Mall.  In order to participate, businesses need to have their own 10 by 10 tent ( and Tent weights), and tables.  Businesses hosting the tents will be advertised on the promotional event map and need to have some type of interactive activity (selling merchandise, hosting an activity, doing a demonstration, sampling food). Every effort will be made to place the tent close to your business for a branding experience. 

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* 5. One of the new downtown branded events is selling a specialty printed coffee mug that will be used at various "hot chocolate stations" along the Kalamazoo Mall. We are working with the area public schools to create a "specialty design" that will represent the school district and be used to sell as a commemorative holiday parade mug. Please let us know how you could participate.

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* 6. In other events planned for after the parade, we are looking at hosting stages for dance teams, carolers, and musical groups (including bands).  Additionally, Santa and Mrs. Claus will be "on the move" this year and will visit 2-3 scheduled indoor locations to encourage movement throughout the core of downtown.  Please let us know if you have any comments or suggestions about these activities. More information to follow. 

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* 7. Every business that participate in the after parade day activities is asked to promote the events in their social media feeds.  If you are not participating in the events, but were provided with a social media kit to help promote the Maple Hill Holiday Parade and After Parade Activities, would you use it and promote it?

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* 8. If you are a restaurant or food location, we need to know if you are able to be open. Offering food options after the parade is really important and will be promoted. Please use the questions below to help identify how your business can support our hungry attendees. 

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* 9. After all of these great event offerings, it is important to note that how all businesses participate is important.  And, being open is supportive. Please use the questions below to help identify how your business can be involved.

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* 10. Address

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