Erika Spence: Business in the Park

Today is Thanksgiving and as my family gathers around a feast, I’ll be giving thanks for the abundance, the warmth around the table and the health of those seated there. I’ll also be reflecting on the vibrancy of our local business community and the collaborative spirit that makes Winter Park so extraordinary.

It’s time to #ShopSmall

Get ready to show some love for local businesses. At last week’s City Commission meeting, Mayor Steve Leary declared Saturday, Nov. 26, as Small Business Saturday in the city of Winter Park. Small Business Saturday is a nationwide movement to support locally-owned, independent retailers on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and according to the Small Business Administration are responsible for more than 60 percent off all net new jobs.

At the Chamber’s Good Morning Winter Park program this month, Dr. Sean Snaith, director of the Institute for Economic Competitiveness at University of Central Florida, shared that for every dollar spent in the local economy, it is multiplied 1.5 times, whereas dollars spent online or in other communities leave Winter Park and make ripples elsewhere. Skip the Black Friday madness and shop small on Small Business Saturday!

Traveling for the holiday, or want to plan your shopping trip in advance? At shopsmall.com you’ll find an interactive map of shopping, dining and entertainment suggestions to help make the most of Small Business Saturday.

Kickoff the holidays on Park Avenue

The Winter Park Chamber of Commerce and the city of Winter Park are proud to host Winter on the Avenue, a kickoff to the holiday season presented by Westminster Winter Park, on Friday, Dec. 2. The holiday street party will include a flurry of activities from 5 to 10 p.m. along Park Avenue and in Central Park, including the tree lighting ceremony, merchant open house and street side dining, photos with Santa, window decorating contest, a Popcorn Flick in the Park, live holiday jazz, ice skating, a Friday Night at the Morse and more! Park Avenue will be closed to create a pedestrian plaza. Bring your friends and family to enjoy the best of downtown Winter Park this holiday season.

Come back the following morning (Dec. 3) for the Leadership Winter Park Pancake Breakfast. The breakfast is presented by Florida Power & Light, Re/Max Town Centre and FBC Mortgage and features hot pancakes and sausage, coffee, juice and delicious toppings by Whole Foods Market Winter Park. The breakfast runs from 7 to 10:30 a.m. and tickets are available in advance at winterpark.org, at the Winter Park Welcome Center and the morning of the event. Cost is $4 for kids and $6 for adults.

Also on Dec. 5, you won’t want to miss the 64th annual Winter Park “Ye Olde Hometown” Christmas Parade. Presented by Spectrum, this traditional parade features 100 entries, including marching bands, dance troupes, community organizations, festive floats and Santa Claus. The parade makes its way down Park Avenue at 9 a.m. and lasts about 90 minutes.

Wishing you a happy and healthy holiday season!

Erika Spence is the senior director of marketing and communications at the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce.