News

Pandemic claims more downtown events

Hendersonville's Halloween Treat Street Carnival, a popular event that attracted hundreds of kids and families, is called off because of the pandemic. [FILE PHOTO]

By Lightning Reports, Published: September 21, 2020

Popular downtown events including the Halloween Treat Street Carnival, Christmas tree lighting and a live Bearfootin’ Art Walk Auction have been called off as the pandemic claims more traditional celebrations.

The Friends of Downtown Hendersonville on Monday announced the cancellation of the annual Treat Street Carnival and Tree Lighting, citing safety of the community and statewide restrictions on public gatherings. Both events take place over the course of just a couple of hours and cause a lot of crowding.

“People are packed together tightly in both of these circumstances,” said Lew Holloway, the city’s director of Community Development. “There’s just no viable way to ensure social distancing in either environment without drastically changing the aspects of these events that people know and love.”

Traditionally, the Treat Street Carnival is held on Halloween evening, and the Tree Lighting occurs on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

The Bearfootin’ Art Walk Auction will take place virtually in order to ensure the health and safety of the community. There are some beautiful bears in this year’s lot and the nonprofit beneficiaries need the fundraising now more than ever.
How to bid: Place your bid now on the virtual auction site. Once you’ve registered and begun bidding, you’ll be notified if you’ve been outbid. Tune in on Facebook Live at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 24, when organizers will receive final bids and announce winners. Bidding ends at 7 p.m.

Here are other fall and holiday events:

• The Hendersonville Farmers Market will operate its regular hours of 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Oct. 31 for Halloween-themed fun and an array of fall harvest produce, baked goods and more.
• Though the Tree Lighting ceremony won’t happen as in previous years, the tree in the Old Courthouse square will officially light up on Friday, Nov. 28. Merchants are encouraged to stay open late for shoppers and families to enjoy an evening downtown.
• Love Hendo – Shop Local – Saturday is scheduled for Nov. 7 and Dec. 5, shutting down Main Street to allow for pedestrian fun and the expansion of downtown restaurants and retail stores.
• Olde Fashioned Christmas on Main Street will take place on Friday, Dec. 4. Merchants are encouraged to stay open later into the evening for shoppers to enjoy a lovely evening, complete with carolers!
• Luminaries Night in Downtown Hendersonville will take place on Saturday, Dec. 12. The Friends of Downtown in partnership with Four Seasons Hospice and downtown merchants invite you to come shop in historic downtown Hendersonville and follow the illuminated pathways to merry shops open late for your holiday shopping convenience.
• Hendersonville Farmers Market will host special holiday markets on Nov. 28 and Dec. 5, featuring a plethora of artisan crafts and handmade products in addition to locally produced food. These holiday markets will occur during regular hours of 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at the market on Maple Street. Grab a hot coffee or cider and bundle up!
• Peppermint Bear Scavenger Hunt: Peppermint Bear will take you on a fun-filled bear hunt through downtown Hendersonville looking for her cubs. The scavenger hunt goes on from Nov. 27 through Dec. 23. For more information about the Scavenger Hunt or to pick your copy of the “Home for the Holidays” calendar of events brochure, stop by the Visitors Center at 201 South Main Street.