Contact: Heather Galbraith, DED 301-698-8118

Distribution Date: 10-28-02 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Historic Downtown Frederick Open House

Historic downtown Frederick celebrates the pre-holiday season with a Holiday Open House on Saturday, November 2^nd from 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm. Enjoy Old World hospitality while previewing this season’s finest offerings. Luminary bags will line the streets to light your way, leading right up to the doorways of participating merchants. Free carriage rides through downtown depart from Everedy Square. Hors d’ouerves will be served by participating merchants throughout downtown.

This is a wonderful opportunity to view holiday merchandise and get some great gift ideas. Building on the Shab Row/Everedy Square Open House weekend hosted by Flights of Fancy, merchants all along Shab Row, Eveready Square, Patrick Street and Market Street are participating. Come early and make a day of it! Enjoy one of downtown Frederick’s fabulous restaurants, see “Sing Along Santa” at the Weinberg Center, and find great gifts at the downtown shops. This is truly an “open house” to visit stores, catch the holiday spirit and enjoy historic downtown Frederick.

For more information, call The City of Frederick Department of Economic Development (DED) at 301.698.8118.

The Greater Frederick Development Corporation (GFDC) Main Street Promotions Committee sponsors this event. The Main Street Program is a nation-wide initiative, through the National Trust for Historic Preservation, to revitalize the downtown historic commercial districts of American cities. The Main Street program is designed to improve all aspects of downtown, both business and residential. The Main Street approach emphasizes support of existing businesses, new business recruitment, rehabilitation of buildings and an overall improvement in the quality of life. The goal is to create a downtown that is an enjoyable place to live, work and visit.

Frederick has received the Main Street designation and actively participated in the program since March 2001. In recognition of the unique qualities of downtown Frederick, the National Trust has named Frederick one of the most distinctive destination cities in America. The Downtown Open House is a great opportunity to enjoy Frederick’s “distinctiveness.”

GFDC is a strategic economic development partner of DED, dedicating its energies to the management of the Main Street Program here in The City of Frederick. The success of the program depends on dedicated volunteers and support from the local community, both residents and businesses alike.

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