The Magic of Middletown presented by Holiday on Main Street

11/19/2024

Enjoy a holiday story time with special guests each Saturday during our Holiday on Main Street series of events at 10:30 a.m. at Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore!

- Saturday, November 30 - Middletown Mayor Ben Florsheim
- Saturday, December 7 - Middletown's New Fire Chief David Albert (Word around the book store is that the Grinch may be making an appearance, so keep an eye out to see if you can spot him!!!)
- Saturday, December 14 - Middletown Police Chief Erik Costa

For more info on all activities taking place, visit: https://holidayonmain.com/

11/14/2024

📣Calling all vendors!!! 📣

Participate in our annual Holiday Pop-up Vendor Fair along the sidewalks of Main Street, Middletown on Saturday, December 7 from 10am-2pm!!!

Bring your handcrafted, unique, or holiday items; information about your company; or just spread the holiday cheer! Register now through Monday, November 18 for early bird pricing!

For more info, visit: https://business.middlesexchamber.com/events/details/2024-holiday-on-main-street-presents-holiday-pop-up-vendor-fair-registration-30040

(As an FYI, we will NEVER instruct vendors to message a personal account, pay via paypal, etc. The ONLY registration for this event will be through our official website listed above!!!)

08/21/2024

The countdown is officially on... 100 days until the Magic of Middletown Tree Lighting Ceremony in downtown Middletown! 🎄🎁

Join us on Friday, November 29 from 4:00-7:30p.m. as we light the big tree on the South Green followed by pictures with Santa, free wagon rides, fresh popcorn and pretzels, performances by our local middle and high school, and much more! Then, head up to Eli Cannon's for their annual tree lighting at 8:00pm!

We are so excited to share much more info as the event approaches, but please save the date!

12/18/2023

This past Friday, we had a FABULOUS turnout for our Dashing Through Downtown Decorated Vehicle Parade! Well over 50 vehicles paraded through downtown Middletown spreading holiday cheer with their festively beautiful vehicles!

Thank you to all families, sponsors, businesses, and viewers that participated In our event! A HUGE thank you goes out to Plummer All-Season Landscaping, LLC for going above and beyond decorating their truck and pulling Santa's sleigh and to Untouchable Towing & Auto Repair for their generous donation to benefit Holiday on Main Street events and chamber youth programs!

A special shoutout to the Jeep Clubs and VW Bug Club that went above and beyond decorating their vehicles and traveling from all over the state and beyond in support of our parade!!! (if you know who they are, please tag them so we can send them a special thank you!!!)

📸: William De Kine

12/16/2023

Conductor Phil will be doing his annual reading of The Polar Express today at 10:30am at the Russell Library!

All aboard for The Polar Express! Our conductor, Phil Pessina, will enchant children with a live reading of the holiday classic, The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg.

What would happen if a mysterious train stopped in front of your house on Christmas Eve? If you still believe, it would take you on a journey to the North Pole where you’d meet Santa and his hundreds of elves getting ready for the most magical night of the year. But before Santa begins delivering gifts to children around the world, one child, aboard the train, will receive the first gift. What would you choose?

This is a family program for all ages. We encourage kids to wear their pajamas!

All aboard for The Polar Express! Our conductor, Phil Pessina, will enchant children with a live reading of the holiday classic, The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. What...

12/15/2023

THIS EVENING!!! Join us this evening for our 4th annual Dashing Through Downtown Decorated Vehicle Parade through downtown Middletown!!!

Decorate your company vehicle, car, van, truck, flatbed, a sleigh, whatever you have! Don’t forget, the more decorations, the better! (this is a great way to advertise your company for FREE!) Participating vehicles will register and lineup at Middletown High School and will parade through downtown Middletown, led by Santa, to view the fabulous decorations on display.

This year, enjoy a little friendly competition for the most festive vehicles! Mayor Ben Florsheim, Jingles the Gnome, and Santa will select their favorite vehicles in the parade!

Registration: 4:30-6:30pm
Judging: 6:45pm
Parade kicks off at 7:00pm SHARP!!!

$5 registration fee per vehicle. Help us fill Santa's Summer sleigh by donating a toy to benefit Middletown families.

You can also catch the parade as it travels down Main Street! Setup behind your car and get ready to enjoy the beautiful parade!!

12/12/2023

A second bus has been added to our Magic of Middletown Pub Crawl, so register now before it fills up!!! 🥳

Join us on our fantastically festive buses for our Magic of Middletown Pub Crawl which will participate in the Dashing Through Downtown Decorated Vehicle Parade and then will make stops at 4 great bars/ restaurants.

Enjoy drink specials, giveaways, trivia, an ugly sweater contest, and more! To register, visit: www.holidayonmain.com/pub-crawl/

12/11/2023

THIS FRIDAY!!!

12/09/2023

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the horse & wagon rides will not be running this weekend.

We are excited to announce a Magical Trolley Ride down Main Street with Santa's Elves!!! Hop on the holiday trolley and enjoy a storytime read by Santa's elves as you travel around Main Street! All children will receive a special present from the elves when they ride!!!

12/06/2023

The fun continues this weekend for our final Saturday of events from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. in downtown Middletown!

New this year... Paws & Claus photos! Take a pic of your pet with Santa during the event!!!

Enjoy a Holiday Story Time featuring Middletown Fire Chief Jay Woron at Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore, Santa's Craft Cave in the basement of the Chamber from 11-1, the Magical Sounds of the Season Festival featuring Bryan Titus out front of webster bank and performances outside of Middlesex Music Academy, free horse & wagon rides, and much more!!!

The Middlesex United Way and Middletown Police Department -Connecticut will be collecting unwrapped toys for their annual Stuff-A-Cruiser Holiday Toy Drive outside of Main Street Market. Donate an unwrapped gift for a child (grades 6-12) and help make their holiday brighter!

Catch a ride on the Holiday Trolley through downtown thanks to River Valley Transit! Hop on and off at stops surrounding Main Street to pick up the perfect gift or grab a bite to eat, or simply hop on and ride the loop! For more info, visit: rivervalleytransit.com/schedules/middletown-holiday-trolley/

For more info, visit www.holidayonmain.com

12/06/2023

Congratulations to the winners of our Tis the Season to Find a Gnome Scavenger Hunt!!!

All participants had a great time finding Jingles the Gnome at 5 locations throughout downtown Middletown! Don't forget to join us in the search for Jingles this weekend during our final Saturday of Holiday on Main events!

For more information or to view the clues online, please visit www.holidayonmain.com

12/01/2023

Join us for our second weekend of events THIS SATURDAY, December 2 from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. in downtown Middletown!

Enjoy our 3rd Annual Reindeer Games officiated by Middletown CT Rec, a Holiday Story Time featuring Middletown Police Department -Connecticut Chief Erik Costa held at Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore, Santa's Craft Cave in the basement of the Chamber, a strolling performance by Connecticut Yuletide Carolers, acoustic holiday songs performed by Bryan Titus, and much more!!!

For more info, visit www.holidayonmain.com

11/29/2023

This weekends schedule! Let’s hope the rain stays away!

11/29/2023

Looking for a beautiful new wreath while support Holiday on Main?! The annual "Festival of Wreaths" auction is just what you need!

This annual auction, featuring wreaths generously sponsored by Liberty Bank and decorated by Chamber Members, raises funds which help make Holiday on Main Street possible!!!

Wreaths are on display at the Main Street location of Liberty Bank (315 Main St, Middletown, CT 06457)

To bid on one (or more!) of our beautiful wreaths, visit: https://auctria.events/2023festivalofwreaths

11/27/2023

11/27/2023

We had a GREAT first weekend kicking off the holiday season with our Annual Tree Lighting on Friday night and our Shop 'til You Drop Holiday Vendor Fair on Saturday!

A special thank you to the Kiwanis Club of Middletown, CT and Rotary Club of Middletown Connecticut for staffing our popcorn & pretzel table, Mayor Ben Florsheim for doing a holiday reading at Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore, Middletown High School and Beman Middle School band and choir for performing the annual carol sing, Trevor Davis for serving as emcee, and our committee for making this event possible. Also a HUGE thank you to all of our sponsors for supporting Holiday on Main Street events!

This coming weekend, join us for our Annual Reindeer Games with Middletown CT Rec, a holiday story time with Middletown Police Department -Connecticut Chief Erik Costa, a kung fu demonstration by Tat Wong Kung Fu Academy CT, and strolling performances by Connecticut Yuletide Carolers.

For more info, visit www.holidayonmain.com!

📸 Photo credit: William De Kine
To check out more photos, visit: https://dekinephoto.zenfolio.com/

11/25/2023

Tis the Season to Find a Gnome!

Jingles the Gnome has escaped the Chamber in hopes of finding some holiday magic! Solve the riddles and help us find Jingles at different locations throughout downtown. Take a picture of Jingles (or you in front of Jingles) at all locations and email your images to [email protected].

All emails must be received by 3:00PM on Saturday, November 25 to be entered into the drawing for a $100 downtown business district gift card. Winner will be announced on Monday, Nov 27 via email & social media.

Shhh.... answers available via the following link: https://chambermaster.blob.core.windows.net/userfiles/UserFiles/chambers/1932/File/Haley/Holiday_on_Main/2(2).png

11/17/2023

We are 1 WEEK AWAY from the start of our events and we are so excited for you to join us!!! 🥳🎅🤶As always, our events will feature free wagon rides, take your own picture with santa, and holiday cheer for all ages!!!

For more info, visit www.holidayonmain.com

A HUGE thank you to all of our sponsors for making these events possible!