New downtown Bartlett business group plans fall events
Business owners and managers in Bartlett's downtown area have banded together to plan their own economic stimulus plan.
This group is focused on cooperative special events to draw more people to downtown to discover the many products and services available.
The impetus for the first gathering in August was recent discussions on the tax-increment finance district slated to end this year unless the village board votes this month to extend it for one year.
Several downtown businesses, led by Banbury Fair owners Jan and Bruce Suffren, signed a letter supporting the extension with suggestions for ways to spend the funds.
The Economic Development Commission also recommended increased marketing support for downtown as a whole, an approved use of TIF money, which encouraged this group to plan cooperative ventures this year that would be of benefit to all.
After hosting a Girls Night Out last month, the independent Downtown Bartlett Business Group has three more special events scheduled for the remainder of the year:
• Halloween Fun Fest: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Oct. 31. Families are encouraged to join a costume sidewalk parade through downtown Bartlett that will begin at 10 a.m. at village hall and conclude adjacent to old train station. Participating merchants along the route will have treats, games and prizes. The parade with conclude with a dance hosted by a deejay.
This precedes official trick-or-treating hours in Bartlett of 3 to 7 p.m. and the Lions Club Sight Night Illuminated Halloween Parade at 7:30 p.m.
• Girlapalooza: 4 to 10 p.m. Nov. 13. A shopping spree event with special activities and gifts for girls and women.
• Holiday Splendor: 5 to 10 p.m. Dec. 4. Participating businesses will be decked out with lights and luminaries and offer hot drinks, activities and shopping specials while carolers stroll through downtown. This coincides with the tree-lighting in Bartlett Park.
The next meeting of the group is at noon today at the Arts in Bartlett Center for the Arts, 117 W. Railroad Ave. For more information, e-mail downtownbartlett@sbcglobal.net or call Bruce Suffren at (630) 837-1727 or Debra Mills at (630) 830-4040.