ATHOL — Who needs Black Friday?
The North Quabbin Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau is gearing up for the 9th annual Midnight Madness, an Athol and Orange shopping extravaganza for the holiday season. Roughly 40 businesses will open for their regular hours on Dec. 10 and remain open for Midnight Madness from 6 p.m. to midnight.
Mark Wright, the chamber’s executive director, says this tradition gives local stores a jolt of business before the new year.
“From the businesses’ perspective, more than half of them report that it is their best sales evening of the year,” Wright said.
He explained most participating stores will offer increasing discounts as the evening progresses. For example, he said, some will have 10 percent discounts from 6 to 7 p.m., 20 percent discounts from 7 to 8 p.m. and so on. Wright said some businesses will have 50 percent discounts by the end of the night.
Registration for the businesses has closed.
There will be free transportation via two buses provided by EH Merrifield Bus Co. and sponsored by Athol Savings Bank and TD Bank. Wright said the buses from 6 p.m. to midnight will travel the Midnight Madness route, which spans from the Orange Innovation Center to downtown Athol. The buses will make regular stops along the way.
Shoppers will also have their “Madness Map” to try to earn prizes. Wright said “Madness Maps” list all participating businesses. Shoppers can get their maps stamped at any of the stores. Spending a certain amount of money in a store will result in a star, and stars make shoppers eligible for $2,000 in prizes. Wright said the maps can be found at northquabbinchamber.com or at any of the participating stores.
“The more places you stop at and the more places you shop at increase your chances of winning a great prize,” Wright said, adding that the grand prize is typically between $900 and $1,000. “It’s wicked fun.”
Wright said Santa Claus is expected to make an appearance at the Athol Area YMCA at 5:45 p.m. and entertainers including Benjamin Carolers, Ryan Hood and the Inside Out Dance Company will perform at various locations. Several restaurants along the shopping route will offer specials in the evening.
You can reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com