Midnight Madness in Knowlton Saturday from 5 p.m. until midnight
Midnight Madness began 12 years ago in the summer. It was the launch of the final Harry Potter book. Bookstores could not start selling the book until midnight, so Brome Lake Books decided to stay open until 12, Lucy Hoblyn of Brome Lake Books said.
“Midnight Madness started because of Harry Potter,” she chuckled. “Somebody said it would be good to do it a couple of weeks before Christmas. It became popular with the merchants.”
Now it’s an annual event that gets the Town of Brome Lake community together to celebrate the holiday season. It’s also a chance to get a jump on Christmas shopping.
Nearly every business and restaurant in Knowlton is participating in Midnight Madness this year, and they’ll all stay open until midnight. That’s because more than 3,000 people converge on the town, depending on the weather.
“It’s a big shopping night for merchants. There are some fun deals and big sales,” Hoblyn said. Midnight Madness is a popular event. The hotel is always booked and the restaurants are packed.
Local artists and artisans will join the downtown businesses to offer a wide selection of unique gifts.
But it’s not just about the deals at the stores and restaurants, Hoblyn said.
There are activities and entertainment for the whole family. Besides shopping there are horse-drawn
carriage rides and musicians. People can warm up near a bonfire while sipping a cup of hot chocolate. Meanwhile, mascot Olaf will be roaming around meeting people. At the Brome County Historical Society’s Children’s Museum you can learn why people decorate trees during the holiday season, and make old-fashioned ornaments. That’s a free event between 4 and 7 p.m.
A children’s choir will perform at the gazebo at 5 p.m. And the Knowlton Players will sing Christmas carols from about 7 until 9 p.m.
Included in the musical entertainment will be Daniel Haché playing traditional Celtic holiday tunes. Glenn Bertie and Nancy May Dey the duo, Squeegee will also perform.
On the library lawn will be food and Local products offered at Midnight Madness crafts vendors. A Christmas market will feature two inflatable igloos that will be fully lit.
As part of the Festival of Lights handmade lanterns will be on display throughout the town, and they will stay up through Christmas. And a light show will be projected against the back of the Pettes Library.
Shoppers have a chance to win. Hoblyn said there are plastic elves hidden at the businesses. The shoppers can write down where they found the elves at each store, and if they’re correct they might win a prize. Some of the merchants also donate prizes with purchases.