The holidays came to life at Downtown Silver Spring with not one, but two weekends of joyous celebrations during the "Sleigh the Season" event on December 14th and December 21st, 2024. Despite the chilly weather, hundreds of attendees across both weekends turned up to experience the holiday magic, showcasing the unwavering community spirit that defines the season.
Here’s a detailed recap of what made "Sleigh the Season" an unforgettable holiday experience.
Sleigh the Season - Event Highlights
Live Entertainment
Both weekends were filled with festive cheer as local artists and school bands delivered captivating live performances. From holiday classics to contemporary hits, the music set a cheerful tone and kept spirits high—even on the windiest, coldest days.
Holiday Activities & Crafts
DIY Ornament Crafting: Guests of all ages enjoyed creating charming paper ornaments, adding a personal touch to their holiday décor.
Cookie Decorating: The cookie station was a standout success, allowing families to decorate (and sometimes devour!) gingerbread men, bell ornaments, and sugar cookies.
Photo Booth: Guests had the opportunity to take holiday-themed photos – mailed as prepaid postcards or kept as cherished keepsakes.
Giveaways & Shopping Perks
Gift with Purchase: Shoppers who spent $50 or more at participating merchants received a $10 gift card for either Nike or Uniqlo, paired with influencer-guided shopping lists.
Enter to Win: Lucky attendees had the chance to win a $250 prize—turning holiday shopping into an exciting reward opportunity.
Holiday Treats
Chido’s Tex-Mex pop-up provided warm churros with chocolate—perfect for the chilly weather.
Delicious quesadillas and fan-favorites from Matchbox kept everyone fueled and festive.
Nando’s spin-the-wheel activation thrilled attendees with free entrees, discounts, and bottles of their iconic sauces.
Fantasticks Cart served up holiday-themed hot cocoa and s’mores, adding a sweet note to the celebrations.
Results & Reflections
Over the two weekends, the event drew 800 attendees, delivering an estimated 1,000 onsite impressions per event. Even with the cold weather, the enthusiasm and participation of our community made this event a resounding success.
Quotes from Attendees
"The energy in the plaza was infectious; it felt great to kick off the holiday season with music and joy!"
"Decorating cookies together was the highlight!"
"What a fun way to engage shoppers!"
Participating Merchants
A heartfelt thank you to the brands that made "Sleigh the Season" extra special:
Nike Unite, Uniqlo, H&M, Chido’s, LOFT, Nando’s, Matchbox, and more.
Special Thanks
We also want to extend our gratitude to the performers, vendors, and teams who braved the elements to make this event possible. Your efforts helped create a warm, vibrant space that celebrated the magic of the holidays.
Stay Connected
If you joined us for "Sleigh the Season," we’d love to hear about your experience! Share your photos and favorite memories with us on social media using #SleighTheSeason and #HolidayShoppingHero.
Looking forward to seeing you at next year’s holiday festivities. Until then, happy holidays from all of us at Downtown Silver Spring!
For more updates on upcoming events, follow us on [Facebook], [Instagram], and visit our website at www.VVSEvents.com.
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