Festive Shops and Santa Hops
It won’t be Christmas as usual but Donaghadee Community Development Association, local traders and the Rotary Club of Donaghadee are making sure that the virus isn’t going to stop some festive activity this weekend.
Many traders, including those forced to lockdown for the past fortnight, will be open late this Friday (11th). Kate Boyd, owner of Dunn’s Footwear, has co-ordinated the initiative. Speaking today she said “This has been a tough year for everyone. We know the local community support our town traders all year round and many have been holding off from making special Christmas purchases until we re-opened. Nearly every shop will be open and we are all looking forward to seeing our customers again. We have measures in place to keep folks safe but everyone is encouraged to play their part by social distancing”
Many of the shops have decorated their windows on a festive theme with the help of local artist Ian McAllister and alongside this the Rotary Club is running a Christmas Shop Window Competition for traders. There’s an added twist in that Ian has hidden a letter in the painting on each window and children are encouraged to solve the riddle and the first 200 can claim their prize from Dunn’s Footwear on Monday 14th.
Many children have been worried that Santa will not be coming this year. The Association, The Rotary Club and County Hardware have been in touch with Santa and he has agreed to do a quick hop round the town on Sunday night (13th) starting at 5.30pm. His route will be on the Association’s Facebook page which will be updated as he travels along. Mark Brooks, President of the Rotary Club, said “We want families to come to their door or their gate and wave to Santa as he drives by. Thomas Newell the owner of County Hardware has been very generous in letting us use his lorry so hopefully everyone will get a good view. Please do remember however to socially distance from Santa and each other.”