Holiday Marketing Opportunities Through Downtown Visions

Downtown Visions is committed to the success of each and every business in Downtown Wilmington DE, especially during the holiday season! As an organization, our mission is to preserve, promote and enhance the Business Improvement District, and we do so in a number of ways, including business marketing and promotion. Please consider taking advantage of the following marketing opportunities for a thriving holiday season in Downtown Wilmington!

Market Made: 12 Days of Christmas

Downtown Visions and New Market Wilm are partnering to offer the FREE opportunity to promote unique holiday specials from December 12-23, 2019, similar to last summer’s Made on Market campaign. The deadline to submit an offer is November 4th, so please email Lani Schweiger LSchweiger@downtownvisions.org or Jennifer Lawson Jennifer@bigideaswilmington.com to participate!

Wilmington Jaycee’s Christmas Parade

The Wilmington Jaycee’s are hosting the 56th annual Wilmington Christmas Parade this year on Saturday, November 30th at 11am!  This parade is volunteer based and is a Downtown tradition that cannot continue without help from our local businesses. Please consider sponsoring the small business float for $100 and supporting the parade this year. Sponsors are also welcome to ride on the float during the parade! For more detailed sponsorship information, click here.

Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday also takes place on Saturday, November 30, coinciding with the Christmas Parade! Take advantage of the nearly 10,000 parade-goers in town and stay open on Small Business Saturday. Offer a special #ShopSmall promotion that day to capture the foot traffic in Downtown Wilmington. Be sure to share these promotions and coupons with us as we will help promote them! You can even create custom marketing materials for your business through the American Express Shop Small Studio.

For more information on any of these holiday marketing opportunities, please email Lani Schweiger at LSchweiger@downtownvisions.org.

You're Invited: Downtown Wilmington Meet & Greet!

Downtown Vision’s Executive Director Marty Hageman and City of Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki invite you to an evening of fun and conversation with other special guests as we kick off the holiday season in Downtown Wilmington, DE. Learn more about all of the ways to celebrate the holidays in your neighborhood this season!

All are welcome to attend the quarterly Meet & Greet on Wednesday, November 20, from 5-7 PM at the Delaware History Museum at 504 N Market St. in the Copeland Room. Light appetizers and refreshments will be provided. We hope to see you there!

Click Here to register. Registration is requested but not required.

Special thanks to our sponsors: Downtown Visions, NKS Distributors, and Shoprite, and our host Delaware History Museum.

Stitch House Brewery & Mascots for a Cure Team Up for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

The official knighting ceremony set to launch Gold Ribbon Ale in support of Mascots For A Cure at Stitch House Brewery will take place Thursday, September 5, at 4PM!

Mascots For A Cure provides HOPE, JOY and LOVE to kids and families battling cancer and other serious illnesses by arming them with the COURAGE and STRENGTH they need to take on their FIGHT. By teaming up with Stitch House Brewery, MFAC will be giving patrons an opportunity to help the cause throughout Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September leading up to the Mascots For A Cure 5K, happening on October 12th in Downtown Wilmington.

“We are honored to find such a great partner in Stitch House Brewery to help spread our message and host our 1st annual 5K event on October 12th. The Gold Ribbon Ale represents the Gold Ribbon many of our families wear in honor of their loved ones fighting cancer. We encourage everyone to come to Stitch House to try it in support, donate what they can and sign up for the 5K.” says Mascots For A Cure’s Chief Impact Officer, Christopher Bruce. 

WHEN: Thursday, September 5th, at 4:00 PM - MFAC’s Own Sir BraveHeart, a Knighted Teddy Bear, will join Stitch House Brew Master Andrew Rutherford and Wilmington’s Mayor Mike Purzycki to Officially Knight the first batch of “Gold Ribbon Ale” and kick off Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. 

WHERE: STITCH HOUSE BREWERY - 829 N Market Street Wilmington, DE 19801 

WHY: To celebrate the launch of the “Gold Ribbon Ale” honoring the kids and families battling cancer and raise awareness about the good work Mascots For A Cure is doing to help. 

WHO: All are welcome to attend, raise a glass to help fight childhood cancer and learn more about Mascots For A Cure. 

For more information on Mascots For A Cure, follow them on Facebook @mascotsforacure or visit their website at www.mascotsforacure.org.

18 Downtown Wilmington DE Businesses Win Delaware Today's Best of Delaware Awards!

Delaware Today has released their 2019 Best of Delaware winners and a number of Downtown Wilmington DE businesses have made the list! Both readers and editors have spoken and voted for their favorite local establishments in a variety of categories, ranging from Food & Drink to Retail & Services. The following Downtown Wilmington businesses were awarded their rightful place at number one and we couldn’t agree more!

Reader’s Choice Awards

• Breakfast Place - Drip Cafe

  • Now with a location in Wilmington at 1201 N Market Street!

• Candy/Chocolate Shop - Govatos

• Coffee Shop - Brew Haha!

• Cooking Class - Delaware Technical Community College

• Food Truck - Mojo Loco

  • Also awarded best food truck in Delaware by Food Network!

• French Cuisine - The Green Room at Hotel DuPont

• Japanese Cuisine & Sushi - Mikimotos

• Live Music Venue & Gala Fundraising Festival - The Grand Opera House

• Men’s Business Attire - Wright & Simon

• Men’s Formal Attire - Collars ‘n Cuffs

• Tattoo Artist/Shop - Poppycock Tattoo

Editor’s Picks

• Happy Hour - Tonic Bar & Grille

• Mouth Watering Instagram Page, Nationally Nominated Restaurant, New Restaurant, & Spot for a Birthday Celebration - Bardea Food & Drink

• Small Plates - La Fia

• Fundraiser - Light Up The Queen Foundation’s Shine a Light

• Local Treasure - Delaware Symphony Orchestra

• Scenic Delaware Photography on Instagram - @Andrew_K__Photography

• Place to See a Drag Show - The Queen

Also, we couldn’t help but mention our neighbors along the Riverfront who deserve some recognition too!

• Reader’s Choice Desserts, Family-Friendly, Lunch Spot, & Best Restaurant in Wilmington - Big Fish Grill

• Reader’s Choice American Restaurant, Brewpub, Outdoor Dining, & Water View Dining, and Editor’s Pick Kid’s Menu - Iron Hill Brewery

• Editor’s Pick Seafood - Banks’ Seafood Kitchen

• Reader’s Choice Thai Cuisine - Ubon Thai Cuisine

• Reader’s Choice Pet Groomer & Pet Store - Riverfront Pets

5 Music Festivals in Wilmington, DE This Summer

From jazz and reggae to pop and blues, there is a music festival for everyone this summer in Wilmington, DE! We’ve rounded up all the details so that you won’t miss a beat this summer!

Clifford Brown Jazz Festival - June 19 - 22 | Rodney Square

Each year, Wilmington, Delaware remembers a brilliant trumpet player, unforgettable composer, and dynamic entertainer whose name and legacy are celebrated at the annual Clifford Brown Jazz Festival. A legend - our legend - whose work offers a moment to laugh, dance, sing, eat, love and experience the ultimate joy music brings. Enjoy live music, family-friendly activities, a block party, and more all for FREE!

Ladybug Music Festival - July 18 - 19 | Market Street

Celebrating women in music, the Ladybug Festival welcomes over 100 female artists to Market Street. Featuring the 8th annual block party between 2nd and 4th streets on Thursday as well as the first ever "Bug Crawl" with over 60 artists performing at 15 venues along Market Street on Friday. You won’t want to miss this Market Street festival that is completely FREE and open to the public!

People’s Festival - July 20 | The Queen

The 25th Annual People's Festival kicks off with a street festival at 12pm! Enjoy live music all day indoors and out! It is the mission of People's Festival to bring a world-class Reggae celebration to the community of Wilmington as it was Marley's adopted hometown outside of Jamaica. Click here to purchase tickets.

Riverfront Blues Festival - August 3-4 | Tubman-Garrett Park

The Riverfront Blues Festival features outstanding live music from across the United States. Blues heads the list but other great musical art forms include Jazz, Americana, Folk, Rockabilly, Rock n Roll, Bluegrass, Funk, and Soul and so much more. This festival is truly a music lover's paradise. Tickets can be purchased here. 

Pawpaw Folk Festival - August 19 | Blue Ball Barn

The Pawpaw Folk Festival is a family-friendly day that celebrates the natural and cultural resources of Alapocas Run State Park. The star of the festival is a Delaware native tree, the Pawpaw. Visitors can learn more about this little known plant through hikes, informative displays and tastings. The festival will also have folk craft demonstrations, storytelling and musical performances. The festival is free with paid park admission.