Balmy Evening, Cookies, Hot Cider, Holiday Windows

The still night air, moderate temperatures and the refreshments offered along the way made for the perfect Sip & Shop this past Thursday in downtown Edenton. As shoppers strolled down South Broad Street, shop windows glistened with tantalizing gift ideas for the holidays. Byrum Hardware’s brightly lit chicken was a shopper stopper. After the last three summer and fall Sip & Shops were basically rained out, it was smiles all around as merchants greeted guests as they shopped.  

From the number of bags in hand, locals and visitors to town started their Christmas shopping days before the Thanksgiving turkey was going into the oven. Many were heard commenting on the uniqueness of the stores on Broad St.  

Thursday was a Rockwell Holiday Evening as friends and neighbors greeted each other while chatting about the cookies at the bakery.  New friendships were created when locals welcomed visitors to town while sipping champagne and enjoying delectables at different merchants.

Residents should be proud of the unique retail selection in a town the size of Edenton. With less than 5000 residents, it is impressive to see the selection and quality offered at our local retailers. Each store has their individual personality and customizes their merchandise for their specific customers, making it a treasure-trove of selection verses shopping in a massive mall of duplication after duplication of product. Shopping local is not only smart when looking for unique products, but also keeps Edenton vibrant and healthy by circulating those dollars in our community.  

Aside from daily holiday shopping, there are two additional shopping events, Black Friday, Nov. 28 and Small Business Saturday, Nov. 29.    

Edenton transformed itself into an Americana Candy Land  Friday evening. An estimated 1000 people, many costumed impersonators, converged on downtown Edenton Friday night in a show of comically joyful entertainment as Broad St. came alive when youngsters of all ages became  Dinosaurs, Ghosts, Goblins and Spidermen and woman for a walk through town that will be remembered forever, both young and old.  

Merchants along Broad St. opened their doors in a show of candy giving force. Bowls, bags, and boxes momentarily overflowing with a variety of candy and treats were manned by business owners, many made up beyond recognition.  

The Town’s First Responders, police and fire, and the town ambassadors were noticeably enjoying the evening, mingling with astronauts and cowboys parading down Broad St. While the evening progressed the police proved they were still on duty, apprehending an unruly  skeleton previously at the town’s newest restaurant, The Edenton Hot Dog Company. The Skeleton was laced in the front seat of the cruisers until the event ended.

Once again Main Street Edenton in collaboration with Edenton merchants, volunteers and supporting groups organized an event the envy of cities and towns across county lines.  

Whether a local or a visitor Broad St. became host to a neighborhood street party for the very young of all ages. It was night to remember...in pictures below.