Whether your shopping or strolling, Fairfield is getting into the holiday spirit Thursday night!

As the holidays beckon, shopping becomes part of most people’s daily routine. So if you are on the hunt for the perfect gift or eye popping Christmas decorations, why not have some fun while you’re at it?

Fairfield First Selectman Mike Tetreau is inviting the public to participate in Fairfield’s 4th Annual Holiday ‘Shop & Stroll’ on Thursday, December 8th. The event is being co-sponsored by the Town of Fairfield and the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce.

Participating shops in downtown Fairfield and Grasmere will stay open until 9 p.m. and will offer an assortment of complimentary hors d’oeuvres and seasonal refreshments to shoppers. Traveling carolers and musicians will fill the air with holiday cheer, and local restaurants will be offering dinner or drink specials. There will also be an ice sculpting demonstration by renowned ice carver Bill Covitz of Ice Matters.

“This is a great opportunity to support our local businesses and to get some of your holiday shopping done while enjoying a fun night out with family or friends,” said Tetreau. For busy parents looking for an opportunity to take a break and do some holiday shopping without accompanying children, the Fairfield Museum and History Center located at 370 Beach Road is sponsoring a “Kid’s Night Out” event that same evening from 5-8PM. The program is geared toward children between the ages of 6 and 10, and will feature story-time, a craft and scavenger hunt activity, entry to the model train exhibit, a short movie and pizza.

Caroling will be provided by students from the Fairfield Warde and Fairfield Ludlowe High School choirs. Fairfield University's Sweet Harmony will gather at the Fairfield University Bookstore on the Post Road at 7 p.m. and then stroll through downtown singing carols. The Fairfield Ludlowe Brass ensemble will also be appearing. Chamber of Commerce President Beverly Balaz said, “The Chamber of Commerce is happy to be partnering with the Town on this festive event as it will give our businesses another opportunity to open their doors to the community, meet new customers from surrounding towns and together, help celebrate the holiday season with a wonderful shopping experience.”

Each of the participating merchants is offering a unique spin for the holiday event. At The Beehive, located at 1561 Post Road and known as the store where you can gifts for everyone, patrons can partake in a “festive Christmas cocktail” as the peruse for the perfect present. Meanwhile down the road at The Brick Walk, shoppers can stop by Island Outfitters where they like to party and the motto is “the more the merrier.” Customers can jive to holiday music, nosh on food and wine while enjoying a 20% discount on all the merchandise in the store.

soundRUNNER at 1596 Post Road is known for its dedication to an active lifestyle and dedication to physical fitness, and the athletic footwear specialist will continue to emphasize those tenets during the Shop & Stroll. The store will be offering 20% discounts on all merchandise except electronics.

“We want to see people coming and out and having a good time,” explained manager Eileen Gould. We like to see people being active and we want to make sure that all of our customers have the right footwear.”

Harry and Greg French of Henry C. Reid Jewelers on 1591 Post Road are into the spirit of Shop & Stroll, and are sponsoring an ice sculpture exhibit which will take place in front of the their store.

“We want to see people have a nice, festive evening,” pointed out Harry French. “We’ll be having wine, cookies, cheese and crackers and we want everyone who stops by to feel festive.”

Sue Dammeyer of Thornton and Diane Mirable of Initial reaction are also planning on ushering in the holiday season in style. “We’ll have drinks and goodies and lots of fun!”

At Snappy Gator on 1438 Post Road, owner Ann Rerat and her right hand elf Heather Bower will be augmenting their exciting collection of clothing, accessories and gifts with a 15% discount. The pair told the Focus that there will be raffles, treats and lots of holiday cheer.

Next door at 1434 Post Road, the folks at La Moda Fashions are also in the holiday spirit. La Moda will be offering $20 gift card incentives on purchases and the gift cards will be redeemable in 2017.

Harry Diamond of Fairfield Center Jewelers, 1498 Post Road said he views the Shop & Stroll as the “kickoff” to what he hopes will be a strong holiday shopping season.

“This is our 84th year in business and we are one of the few Mom & Pop stores left in Fairfield center,” he said. “I think we all held our collective breaths about the economy after the recent election, but we seem to have weathered that storm. We’ll be open seven days a week from now until Christmas and we like to do anything we can to support the Chamber.”

The popular toy store Magic Beans at 1530 Post Road is giving a 15% discount on all toys as well as serving light refreshments. Their neighbors at Lion’s Paw, 1552 Post Road, will be sponsoring a wine tasting with a bevy of Hors D’oeuvres and numerous holiday specials. Across the street at the Fairfield University Bookstore, Nancy Quinn tells us that there will be lots of specials, goodies and a special appearance by Lucas the Stag.

At design gallery No. 299 on 11 Unquowa Road there will be an open house and lots of spirit of the season.

“We’re excited,” said Jackie Fucigna. “The weather is going to be perfect and we’re going to have wine and cheese and a lot of fun. And we’ll be giving away a free gift with every purchase over $40.”

The owners of Me Boutique in The Brick Walk are also in a generous mood. All store items are being given a 30% discount and the first 12 customers during the Shop & Stroll will receive a free gift.

Owner Lib DeNure of Hazel Daze in Grasmere, 86 Post Road, is well known for her eclectic gifts and charitable spirit and Thursday will be no different. She said, “We will be having an open house with wine and cheese and Hazel Daze will make a percentage give back on all purchases to Our Woven Community.”

Our Woven Community is a program run out of the Burroughs Community Center in Black Rock, that teachers refugee women sewing and craft making skills in order to help make them economically self sufficient.

Other retailers participating in the Shop & Stroll are: Apricot Lane, Banana Republic, Capri, Chico’s Cycleology Bike & Ski, Dash ‘N Drizzle, Giuliana Boutique, In the Mood Intimates, Loft, Party Party, Pure Barre Fairfield, Saugatuck Sweets, so Chic, Swim ‘n Surf, Twisted Vine, Vintage Garden and Yoga for Everybody.