Holiday shopping made easier

Downtown Bloomington is bustling with holiday cheer as the biggest shopping season begins.\nSunday, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., local store owners invite shoppers to jingle all the way around the Courthouse Square and on Kirkwood Avenue. The event is intended to reduce the stress of holiday shopping by providing refreshments served by elves, continuous strolling music, complimentary gift wrapping and massages for tired shoppers.\n"There is a calm and relaxed atmosphere that makes holiday shopping easier and more enjoyable," said Talisha Coppock, executive director of the Downtown Bloomington Commission. \nMany downtown stores will display their discounted traditional and trendy holiday merchandise. The specialty shops will feature a variety of gift items ranging from clothing and candles to jewelry and homemade crafts.\n"I am looking forward to getting all of my shopping done early this year," sophomore Jill Delaney said. "It will be nice to find more personalized gifts for everyone on my list in the downtown boutiques."\nThe event is open to people of all ages, and entertainment will be provided for everyone. \nThe sounds of the holidays will also reverberate around town as the Bloomington Brass Band is scheduled to take the stage 2 p.m. at Peoples Park, on the corner of Dunn Street and Kirkwood Avenue. \nChildren can enjoy the special 3 p.m. matinee performance of Cinderella, presented by Music Works, at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children under 11. \nOther perks for the day include photos with Santa and the first annual holiday arts and crafts fair at the Monroe County Historical Museum. The event will showcase unique handmade gifts by local craftsmen and artists from noon to 4 p.m. \nSunday is also the final day for their Festival of Wreaths Silent Auction, featuring wreaths donated by local designers and florists. \n"As a community, we value our downtown and everything it has to offer," Coppock said. "The street front retail is such an important aspect of Bloomington, and we especially want to recognize and support this part of our community during the holiday season."\nDee Stolberg, owner of deeAarons Boutique for women and children in the Fountain Square Mall, said she encourages shoppers to enjoy the various attractions around the square. Like many other stores, she said deeAarons will offer gift wrapping with a $1 donation to Toys for Tots, an organization that strives to "bring the joy of Christmas to America's needy children." Customers can also sign up for special promotions and door prizes at deeAarons.\n"We are also going to serve a light brunch of fruit, bagels and juice for clients to enjoy while they browse through the shop," Stolberg said.\nWorn-out shoppers can also enjoy complimentary neck and arm massages at the Fountain Square Mall anytime during the day. \n"After this shopping experience, I'm going to become so spoiled," Delaney said. "I am never going to be able to go to a mall without craving free food and massages."\nStolberg said she hopes the event will bring many customers out to shop. \n"We have done such a wonderful renovation with our downtown, and we are so fortunate to be able to hold this event," Stolberg said. "It's something that everyone should see"