New downtown event combines food and drink with local shopping

Article originally published as “New event combines Vermont-made food and drink with local shopping” by Jack Thurston

December 7, 2023

NBC 5

Downtown Rutland is playing host to Jingle Bell Shop Thursday night.

RUTLAND, VT. —

A new event called Jingle Bell Shop is coming to downtown Rutland this week, combining locally-produced food and drink with local shopping.

A $25 ticket gets you a pass to enjoy spirits from Vermont distilleries Thursday night. Beer, cider, mead, and wine will also be served as participants sample food from area businesses. Participants will stroll between more than 20 stops throughout downtown Rutland, where organizers say retailers are promising raffles, door prizes, contests for festive holiday outfits, and special incentives like discounts or free gift-wrapping.

Tiffany Saltis, the executive director of the Downtown Rutland Partnership, told NBC5 News events like Jingle Bell Shop add to the vitality of the city, and keep the money you spend in your local community.

"It gets people directly in the door," Saltis said. "We have people saying time and time again, 'Oh, I've been meaning to check out this business,' or, 'I've been meaning to try that,' and they become lifelong customers after that point. So it's a great opportunity. Guests at these events get to have a fun time, but our businesses truly benefit from events like this. And they really are critical for the lifeblood of these businesses."

There is also a $15 ticket available to Jingle Bell Shop that does not include alcohol, if you don't drink or if you're a designated driver. Ticket information is available on this website from the Downtown Rutland Partnership.

The new event is from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 7. It starts with a check-in at 4:30 at the Downtown Rutland Partnership office on 28 Center Street, where participants will pick up a map of participating locations and a Jingle Bell Shop tasting glass.

"Shopping-centric events are so critical to the vitality of your downtown," Saltis said. "We found that 66 cents of every dollar spent locally stays local, so that goes directly back into your community. And we really see these events are really positively received by our downtown businesses."

More information on activities and events in downtown Rutland is available on the Downtown Rutland Partnership's website.