October 2009-January 2010
FESTIVE ACTIVITIES
p. 1-2
Ice Skating
Riverfront Park Ice Palace
Opens October 21
First Friday
November 6 & December 4
Free Horse & Carriage Rides
Wall Street at Main Avenue
November 27 - Christmas Eve
Sponsored by STCU
Strolling Carolers
Throughout Downtown Skywalks
Weekends in December
First Night & First Day
December 31 - January 1
US Figure Skating
Championships
January 14-24
ADVERTISING & PROMOS
p. 3-6
Window decor ideas: p 2-3
FREE promotion opportunities: p. 3
FREE ice skating coupons: p. 3
First Friday opportunity p. 4
First Night & First Day: p. 4
Reduced priced advertising: p. 5-6
Downtown for the Holidays
Yo u r D o w n t o w n P l a n n i n g
Guide for the Holidays
2009 Holiday Season Entertainment & Activities
We Want to Promote YOU!
Downtown is an amazing place to spend the holidays, with various events, sights and sounds of the season, there’s
something for everyone to enjoy! This holiday season, Downtown Spokane wants to promote what you’re
doing for the holidays. Everything from hosting a holiday open house, tea party, special event or sale, to having
holiday performances, live music, or delicious snacks –we want to hear from you!
To be included in our various holiday promotions, including our calendar of events, posters, ads, web site listing,
and in our official Downtown Holiday Guide, please email your holiday plans to Leanne Sangster at
[email protected] by Monday, November 2, 2009. Once the deadline has passed your holiday
activity may still be included on the Downtown Spokane web site, so send information as soon as possible for
FREE publicity, your benefit as a Business Improvement District (BID) Ratepayer.
For those who prefer to fax information, please use the form below, Attn: Leanne Sangster. Otherwise, e-mail
[email protected] today!
HOLIDAY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES IN DOWNTOWN
Contact Name:
Business Address:
Business Phone:
__Business Name:
_____
Email:
___________
Contact Phone (if different):
_____
* Please list any special activities or offers your business will host for the holiday season (i.e. refreshments, music,
holiday activities, special offers, etc.) including the date, time & brief description. Please send your information
to Leanne at [email protected] or you may fax this sheet to 509.747.3127.
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Downtown Business Improvement District, 211 N. Wall St., Suite 300, Spokane, WA
99201 Phone: (509) 456.0580 x102
Fax: (509) 747.3127
E-mail: [email protected]
www.downtownspokane.net
Downtown Holiday Planning Guide
Page 1
Add Some Holiday Entertainment to your Festivities!
Holiday entertainment can also be available to you at minimal or no cost for any special holiday promotions or open
houses you would like (depending on availability). Strolling Carolers will also be singing through the Downtown
skywalks every Friday 3-9pm, Saturday 12-9pm, and Sunday 2-6pm, throughout December to kindle the holiday
spirit! During the regularly scheduled hours, the carolers can be available directly to you at no cost for any special
holiday promotions or open houses you would like. Contact Leanne at 509.456.0580 x102 or
[email protected] to schedule some holiday entertainment.
Free Horse and Carriage Rides
Free Horse-drawn Carriage Rides by STCU and the BID are available
with pick-up on Wall Street at Main Avenue every Friday, 3-8pm and
Saturday through Sunday 12-5pm, beginning November 27th and
ending with a special Christmas Eve ride, 12-3pm. The Horse and
Carriage rides are sponsored by STCU and BID. For more
information, contact Leanne at 509.456.0580 x102 or
[email protected].
Santa Express
Santa Express is a great way for kids, ages 4-12, to shop for
affordable Christmas gifts. Proceeds benefit the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery. The store, located in the 2nd level of
the Crescent Court building at 707 W. Main, will be open 7 days a week November 23rd through December 23rd,
Monday – Saturday, 10am-8pm, and Sundays 11am-6pm.
For more information on Santa Express or Vanessa’s Village call 509.448.2900 or email Mary Macri at
[email protected].
Santa Photos at River Park Square
Santa arrives November 20th at 7pm, and returns each day for photos through Christmas
Eve. For hours or more information contact the Concierge Desk at 509.363.0304.
Window Displays
We encourage you to decorate your window for the season. Show your holiday spirit with a
display that captures the tradition only Downtown can provide! The following page
contains ideas and resources for making your windows shine. Consider having a winter or
figure skating scene to last through the holiday season and into the US Figure Skating
Championships to show your support and draw in visiting customers. See the U.S. Figure
Skating opportunity package for more information.
Window Painting
Holiday window painting is a great way to extend the holiday spirit into the skywalks and storefronts. Contact
painter Stan Burke (who paints the Downtown skywalks, coordinated through the DSP) at 509.325.3632 or Del
Croff at 509.534.3288 for more information on window painting.
Need help with decorating your window?
The Interior Design Student Association (IDSA) can design and decorate your medium to small window staging
projects at very low cost. Contact Carrie Vielle at 509.599.2106 or [email protected] or try calling some of
your favorite local non-profit groups or youth groups.
Downtown Holiday Planning Guide
Page 2
Decoration Resources & Ideas
Decorate your business or building’s windows,
skywalk, doorways, lobby, etc. with:
o Mini lights
o Banners, bows, garland or swags
o Old skates, skis, snowshoes, etc.
o Wrap your window like a package
Change out your internal top floor building lights or
external building lights in festive colors
o Resource: Power City Electric, Jim
Destefano, 509.999.4353
Create a Laser Light Display on your building,
fountain or other eye catching feature
o Resource: Douglas Davidson, The Douglas
Factor, www.thedouglasfactor.us,
509.216.1246
Build a gobo (projection of a lighted image onto a
wall or building)
o
Resource: Silhouette Lighting,
509.747.4804
Display House Inc. (trees, lights, garland, general
Christmas decorations)
509.747.4149
6510 E. Sprague Ave.
Clearwater Summit Group (lights) 509.482.2722
LCD Expo (pipe and drape, props, misc. items)
509. 325.9656
Wonderland Christmas Trees (green or flocked grand
fir trees) 509.922.8372
Twinkle Lights - Light Up Your Area!
Routine maintenance and replacement of tree lights is necessary with minimal cost paid by the property owner. If
you have street trees in front of your building that need twinkle lights or replacements, call Dan Hall, Operations
Coordinator at the DSP, 509.456.0580 x101 or [email protected].
For décor questions or ideas, contact Leanne at 509.456.0580 x102 or [email protected].
Free Promotion Opportunities for You
FREE Ice Skating Coupons for Your Customers
Riverfront Park Ice Palace opens in October for the winter skating season. The Park will offer a special coupon for
retailers to give to their customers with purchase. The coupons are good for free ice-skating (skate rental not
included) and valid November 27th through December 24th. If you are interested in receiving additional
coupons available to pass out to your customers, contact Leanne at 509.456.0580 x102 or
[email protected]. (poster to advertise your particiaption included in your packet)
Coffee Shops, Don’t Forget to Sign Up for the Coffee Promotion!
Attention Downtown Coffee Shops: looking for a great holiday promotion? Then you should participate in a buy
1 get 1 free promotion for the winter horse and carriage rides. This is a free advertising opportunity that will go
out to thousands of horse and carriage riders. To sign up, please contact Leanne at 509.456.0580 x102 or
[email protected] by Monday, November 2nd.
Send us your listing!
Don’t forget to send your holiday festivities and events to [email protected] to be included in
Downtown holiday promotional materials, at no cost to you! See page one for details.
Downtown Holiday Planning Guide
Page 3
First Friday Promotion
On behalf of the Downtown Business Improvement District (BID) and the Spokane Arts
Commission, we want to formally invite you to participate in “First Friday,” a promotional
program designed to showcase the Downtown arts, retail, restaurant and entertainment scene
consistently on the First Friday of each month.
First Friday is a great way to showcase your business by hosting a reception, art display, live
music, reading, children’s activity, or a value added opportunity. Upcoming First Friday event
dates are November 6th and December 4th.
Your commitment to a special activity in your business entitles you to be included in a full page
monthly Inlander ad promoting all the First Friday activities. The ad runs on the Thursday just
before the event. It is also featured on the DowntownSpokane.net and SpokaneArts.org
websites, e-news and news releases. This opportunity is being presented to you FREE of charge.
Please contact Leanne for a First Friday Planning Guide and to sign up to participate in First Friday promotions at
509.456.0580 x102 or [email protected]
First Night and First Day Activities
Now in its 9th year, First Night Spokane, a Celebration of the Arts on New Year’s Eve, will again present a wide
variety of visual and performing arts in Downtown Spokane. Back again this year is “First Day,” happening the
following day on New Year’s Day. First day is an extension of First Night with the goal of increasing regional
tourism by bringing in new visitors to Downtown and your business.
“First Day” activities expand tourism during this non-traditional retail, restaurant and accommodations period.
First Night is creating a unique marketing campaign to create awareness of these elements of First Day, including
print, program listing, TV and other methods to promote the various benefits being offered by those that sign up.
First Night needs Downtown businesses, retailers, and restaurants to get involved with First Day activities. This
opportunity is being presented to you free of charge, so sign up now!
Contact Name:
Business Address:
Business Phone:
Business Name:
Email:
Contact Phone (if different):
Activity, Value-Added Promotion, or Discount offered on New Year’s Day:
___________
__________________
___________
___________
___________
Examples may include: Big Screen Football with specials, Fashion Show, Makeover, Music, Reading, Children’s Activity, Art
Display, Show First Night button and receive Gift with Purchase, Free Dessert with Entrée Purchase, or Buy 1 Get 1 Free offer, etc.
Yes, I would like to sell First Night Spokane buttons in my store
Hurry, the deadline to sign up is Friday, November 6th in order to be listed on First Night Spokane’s
website in conjunction with available First Day activities!
For more information on the “First Day” project or to get involved, please contact Chris Martin at
509.252.5027, [email protected] or fax this form to 509.459.0396.
Downtown Holiday Planning Guide
Page 4
Downtown Safety
Security Ambassador Hours
Monday-Saturday: 11:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Sunday: 12:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. (beginning after Thanksgiving)
Flexible hours as needed during peak times and several early morning shifts.
Security Ambassadors provide customer/employee escorts, directions, assist with street disturbances or shoplifting and graffiti removal.
Security Ambassadors can be reached at 509.353.9111
*Don’t forget the Clean Team provides snow/ice removal in crosswalks and common areas for
your customer’s needs.
Making Downtown Parking More Friendly
Downtown is always working on making parking Downtown a pleasant experience. More than 350 holiday shoppers
parking on meters may be surprised to find a Courtesy Ticket in place of a parking ticket on their windshield. This
program is in conjunction with the Business Improvement District (BID) and the City of Spokane Street
Department in order to educate parkers about parking alternatives to the meters. The cost of the ticket will be paid
for by the BID and the City of Spokane. This is our way to say thank you to customers for visiting Downtown
during the holidays.
For more information on these and other Downtown Parking Programs, please
contact Andrew Rolwes at 509.456.0850 x109 or [email protected].
Advertising Opportunities at a Reduced Price
Maximize your holiday dollars! Using the power of group buy, you may be able to purchase your ad in the following
publications at a reduced price. For a complete rate sheet for any of the following publications, please call
the listed representative or email [email protected].
“Downtown Spokane Holiday Guide” – Inlander
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The official “Downtown Holiday Guide”
The 16-page color Downtown Holiday Guide pull-out includes listings of holiday season activities and
events. The Guide will run in the Inlander’s November 19th issue
An additional 10,000 copies will be printed and distributed to hotels, visitors and common areas
throughout November & December.
Receive this reduced price advertising as a benefit of being a BID Ratepayer through the Inlander.
Deadline to reserve your space is Wednesday, November 11th.
Contact your Inlander representative or Kristina Elverum at 509.325.0634 x 223 for more information
and reservations.
Downtown Holiday Planning Guide
Page 5
“Downtown Spokane Magazine”– Journal of Business
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Support the Downtown experience! Downtown Spokane has invested more than $3.7 billion through
business and community partnerships, making Downtown a unique, diverse and economically healthy
urban core for our region. This official annual color magazine showcases Downtown Spokane as the
best place to live, work and play.
In full circulation on Thursday, December 10th with an additional overrun for distribution throughout
the entire next year.
Deadline to reserve your space is November 13th.
Contact your Journal representative at 509-456-5257 for more information or reservations.
Holiday Advertising – Spokesman-Review
•
Contact your Spokesman-Review representative or Todd Hogan at 509-459-5039 for more information
and reservations on holiday ads.
“Annual Christmas Gift Guide” – Spokane Coeur d’Alene Living
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Special ad discounts for BID Ratepayers.
Participating merchants who have unique items for the gift giving guide can provide a photo and
information to be featured in the guide for FREE.
November/December Issue Reservation Deadline Monday, November 2nd.
Contact Lynn Hanley at 509-280-5008 for more information and reservations.
“Downtown Holiday Shopping Promotion” – Wheat Life Magazine
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Reach 15,000 Inland Northwest Farm and Ranch Families.
Special reduced rates for BID Ratepayers to be included on Downtown pages.
Deadlines: October 16th for November issue and November 20th for December issue.
Contact Kevin Gaffney at 509-235-2715 for more information and reservations.
“Holiday Finds” – Inland NW Homes & Lifestyles Magazine Insert for the
Spokane Journal of Business
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December/January Issue Deadline November 2nd
Circulation date November 25th
Contact your Journal of Business Representative at 509-456-5257 or call Carol Haskell at 509-344-1275
for more information and reservations.
Online Entertainment Guide – AccessSpokane.com
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Access Spokane’s goal is to showcase the entertainment events, outdoors, dining, art and nightlife
options Downtown in a convenient “Weekend Calendar of Events” website
Weekly newsletter emailed every Thursday, reaching 25,000+ potential customers every month
Monthly and yearly online advertising packages including an online business listing, access to website
calendar, and newsletter posting
Contact Philip Sandifur at 509-995-9544 or [email protected] for more information or to setup
your online advertising package.
For holiday advertising questions, opportunities, or contacts, please call Leanne
Sangster at 509.456.0580 x102 or [email protected]
Downtown Holiday Planning Guide
Page 6