Christmas downtown: Free sleigh rides, contests and more

With the Santa Claus Parade and Santa Watch Party happening this tomorrow (Nov. 21), the Christmas spirit is in full force in Downtown Sudbury.

The Downtown Sudbury Business Improvement Area wants to make your holiday season a bit more memorable with free sleigh rides, the Best Gifts Under the Tree Contest and gift giveaways, a press release said.

This holiday season you can enjoy a free horse drawn sleigh ride through downtown Sudbury during the first three Saturdays in December. Sleigh rides are available from 12-3 p.m. in front of the YMCA on Durham.

The Best Gifts Under the Tree contest starts the first week of December. Customers may fill out a ballot at any of the participating businesses to win a Downtown Gift Certificate Package.

This year, more than $6,000 in Downtown Gift Certificates are available to be won through weekly draws in December. Look for the Best Gifts Under the Tree posters at more than 30 shops and restaurants for your chance to win.

Hold on to your downtown receipts from Nov. 21–Dec. 19 to receive a free gift from Downtown Sudbury. The BIA will be taking over 150 Durham St. (beside The Candy Store) for the first three Saturdays in December, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., to thank customers for shopping in the city's core.

Receipts totalling $75 or more will be stamped and returned to their owners. Multiple receipts will be accepted, so enjoy a meal, a day of shopping or getting pampered in the downtown, and swing by to pick up your free gift thanks to the many downtown businesses.

In addition to the many programs happening downtown for the Christmas Season, the Christmas tradition of Santa’s letter box being located in the city’s core continues.

Children may send their letters to the North Pole by slipping their letter, complete with a return address and child’s name, into the letterbox located at the corner of Elm and Durham. Letters will receive a personalized letter courtesy of Santa’s Downtown Helpers.

If you would like to keep updated on what is going on in the city’s core, you can follow Downtown Sudbury’s Facebook page or visit the website DowntownSudbury.com.