Downtown to kick off season with Jingle & Mingle event

‘Tis the season for downtown fun in Dublin. And kicking it all off will be the annual Jingle & Mingle, with a slight few changes.

Last year, the event was held toward the end of the Dublin Christmas Parade. That will not be happening this year. Instead, Jingle & Mingle will be held all day Saturday, Nov. 30 with a few twists.

“We are wanting to encourage the community to shop with as many downtown merchants as they can,” said Main Street Manager Lauren Patterson. “Kind of our theme is going to be shop local and shop downtown, and buy gifts that give back to the community. This year, a person will go to a participating business and get a punch card. With each purchase, they’ll get a punch on their card.”

Participants only need to get three punches to be eligible for a downtown goodie basket. All they have to do is read the rules on punch card, give their name, phone number and email.

“Once the three purchases are made, they can turn it in to a downtown businesses,” Patterson said. “We’ll collect them and we will draw all the cards and announce a winner.” 

Restaurants will be included in this event, which will go from the open to close of businesses.

Around 4:30 p.m., EthAerial Arts will perform in the grassy area in front of Theatre Dublin. Around 5:30 p.m., Santa Claus will light the tree at Founders Park. This will be followed by G Rhythm Performing Arts Center with dancing performances at about 5:35 p.m. 

Santa will be available from 6 to 8 p.m. with Betta Focus taking pictures. Around 7 p.m., music group National Noel will perform at Theatre Dublin.

“They perform a mix of country Christmas classics,” Patterson said. 

A week later the Downtown Development Authority will hold Christmas at the Market from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6, and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7.

“We will have several kind of crafty vendors, some with baked goods, and I know we’ll have some out there with fresh coffee with the baked goods and Christmas crafts,” Patterson said. “We’ll have Christmas gifts for everyone, even for your four-legged friend. It will be a perfect place to get your Christmas shopping done.”

They will have approximately 30 vendors.

“A handful of them will be some of our regular farmers market vendors or they have been at our events such as the chili cook off,” Patterson said. “I love Christmas in general. Being in a small town gives you that sort of Hallmark feel and it’s good to see the joy in the community with a chance to give back to the small businesses.”