Holiday Open House
The Holiday Open House on Sunday, November 11 gives you a head start on holiday gift buying at downtown's specialty retail shops. You can register for the giveaway of $1000 in Downtown Dollars at 19 businesses. The drawing will be held at 4:15 PM at the Art Center. The Holiday Open House is financially supported by the participating merchants, so be sure to thank them:

Art Center
The Beancounter
Burlington by the Book
Burlington Vintage & Co.
Csky Boutique
Gypsi
Hopefully Yours
The Iowa Store
Little Brown Duck
LOFT Market
The Medium
Mundt Piano & Organ
Myrtle Vera's Hallmark
Natural Inspirations
Nature's Corner
Original Cyns
Red Screen Door
Tattered Parasol
Weird Harold's
Lighted Holiday Parade
The Lighted Holiday Parade will take place on Jefferson Street on Saturday, November 24 at 5 PM. There is still time for businesses, organizations, and church groups to enter a float. This year's theme will be "Winter Wonderland."You can download the parade entry form at GreaterBurlington.com  or call Downtown Partners at 319-208-0056. NOTE - because the Tama site will still be fenced off, the parade will detour around the 300 block of Jefferson, onto Fourth, Valley, and Third Sts., then back to Jefferson.
Thanks to presenting sponsor Pritchard Broadcasting for making the Downtown Partners holiday events possible.
Holiday Shop Hops Return
Every Thursday evening until Christmas beginning on November 15, many downtown merchants will be open late to fit customers' busy schedules. The great majority of retail shopping takes place after 5 PM. Happily, we are seeing more businesses embrace evening and weekend hours (which also plays off the restaurant traffic), making downtown even more of a destination. And starting on November 29, Santa will be in his cottage at Nancy Neafie Park during the Holiday Shop Hops!
Get Unchained on Small Business Saturday
Small Business Saturday is coming up on November 24 - but for downtown, it is EVERY DAY! Independent businesses are the backbone of downtown Burlington - in fact, nearly all of our businesses are locally owned and operated. They are a big reason why downtown Burlington is a distinctive destination. We have things you simply cannot find anywhere else.  
When you support a locally owned business, whether it's a retail shop, restaurant, or professional service, you are directly supporting your own community. These businesses are owned by your neighbors - the people who have personally made financial investments in seeing downtown succeed. They are entrepreneurs who know how important it is to have direct contact with their customers. They choose the merchandise, maintain the buildings, and pay the taxes. They are in business here because they believe in us, so let's return the favor.
Unique products, personal service, keeping your dollars in the community - there are a lot of great reasons to shop independent and shop downtown Burlington!
Indoor Winter Market
The Jefferson St Farmers Market is hosting a pair of Saturday indoor markets on November 17 and December 15 at the Capitol Theater from 10 AM to 2 PM. Some of your summer favorites will be back to enjoy this holiday season. While you're downtown shopping, stop in for holiday baked goods, fresh eggs, local honey, soaps, and handcrafted goodness!
The Latest News...      
  • Thanks to all those who supported Downtown Partners with their contributions in the recent 144 Envelopes fundraiser. We sincerely appreciate the affirmation that our work IS making a positive impact.  
  • Thanks also to all those merchants who passed out candy for the Downtown Trick or Treat, as well as the Des Moines Co. CERT team in handling traffic control. It appeared to be the biggest crowd we've ever had for this event!
  • Zaiser's did a wonderful job with the downtown flower planters again this year. They are a beautiful part of our vibrant downtown. We're grateful for funding from the John H. Witte, Jr. Foundation and Keep Burlington Beautiful that helps make it possible.  
  • We greatly appreciate the work of the BHS music boosters in putting up the streetlight wreaths - another example of a great partnership.  
  • Is your business interested in presenting a 5 & V outdoor movie next summer? We have one sponsorship opportunity remaining; contact Cindy Henry at 752-6365 for details.  
  • Put Thursday, December 13 on your calendar for Living Windows!
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DowntownLogo
"The mission of Downtown Partners is to preserve and revitalize downtown Burlington by enhancing its economy, infrastructure, and historical and cultural features."
 
A Main Street Iowa Program

A Division of the Greater Burlington Partnership
RiverPark Place
610 N 4th Street, Suite 200
Burlington, IA  52601

Steve Frevert, Director of Downtown Partners, Inc.
[email protected]  -  319-208-0056

Upcoming
Downtown Events

November       

7  -  Art Educators of Des Moines County exhibit reception , Art Center, 1 PM
                                    
Cake Decorating Class, Burlington Public Library, 
5:30 PM

8 - Civic Music Presents Sybarite 5, Memorial Auditorium 7:30 PM

9 - Family Night Unplugged - Cooks & Books, Burlington Public Library, 5:30 PM
           
Jerad Harness & Nathan Gosnell, Wake N Bake Breakfast Co., 6 PM

Heathers and Lily, Burlington Bent River Brewing Co., 8 PM

10 - Kids Day, Des Moines Co. Heritage Center, 10 AM

International Gaming Day , Burlington Public Library, 
10 AM

Brunch, Bingo & Beverages , Elks Lodge, 10:30 AM

Kidsymphony , Capitol Theater, 4 PM

Best F(r)iends Vol. 1 & 2 with Greg Sestero, Capitol Theater, 7 PM

Stars in Toledo, The Rumours, The Washington, 8 PM

11 - Acoustic Jam Session, Beancounter Coffeehouse & Drinkery, 11 AM

Holiday Open House, Noon

13 - Tween Thankful Tree, Burlington Public Library, 6 PM

WIU Jazz Orchestra, The Washington, 7 PM

15 - "Morocco," Murray Travelogue Series, Capitol Theater, 1:30 & 7:30 PM

Homeless Shelter Soup Supper , The Drake, 5 PM

STEM in the Library: Harry Potter Potions, Burlington Public Library, 6 PM

Big Church Night Out, Memorial Auditorium, 7 PM

Holiday Shop Hop , 5 PM

16 - Fretworks and All Members Show exhibit reception, Art Center, 5 PM

Comancheros, Ritch Henderson, Jon Deere Green , Big Muddy's, 7:30 PM

Aaron Stevens, Burlington Bent River Brewing Co., 8 PM

Izabel Crane, The Washington, 8 PM

17 - Jefferson St. Winter Market, Capitol Theater, 10 AM

Sterling Lord Day , Burlington Public Library, 10 AM

Lego Club, Burlington Public Library, 10 AM

Depot renovation celebration, 
5 PM  

Churchill: A One-Man Play , Capitol Theater, 7 PM

Grammy Awards Raffle party, Memorial Auditorium, 8 PM

18 - A Whole New World of Music, First United Methodist Church, 2 PM

Rock 4 Vets, Capitol Theater, 
4 PM

19 - The Incredibles 2, Burlington Public Library, 
2:30 PM

20 - "How Gravitational Waves Pointed Us to the Origin of Gold", Capitol Theater, 7 PM

21 - Lunchtime Chamber Music Series, First United Methodist Church, 12:15 PM

Natty Nation, The Washington, 8 PM

23 - Friends of the Library Book Sale, Burlington Public Library, 9 AM

Day of the Doctor Meetup, Burlington Public Library, 
11 AM

Tim Smith, Burlington Bent River Brewing Co., 8 PM
Bluzillion, Eric Pettit Lion, The Washington, 8 PM

24 - Small Business Saturday

Friends of the Library Book Sale , Burlington Public Library, 9 AM

Lighted Holiday Parade, 5 PM

Leaving Abbey , The Washington, 8 PM

25 - Acoustic Jam Session, Beancounter Coffeehouse & Drinkery, 11 AM

29 - Holiday Shop Hop, 5 PM

30 - Dueling Pianos, Depot, 
7 PM

Fretworks, Burlington Bent River Brewing Co., 8 PM

Annalibera, The Washington, 
8 PM

December 

1 - Miracle on Jefferson Street, 9 AM and 1 PM

That's Yesterday's News, Burlington Public Library, 
10 AM

Christmas Craft Show , Memorial Auditorium, 10 AM

Soul Sherpa, Fretworks, The Washington, 6 PM

Lessons and Carols , First United Methodist Church, 7 PM

David Kroll & Bethany Shane fundraiser, Beancounter, 
7:30 PM

2 - Christmas Craft Show, Memorial Auditorium, 10 AM

Lessons and Carols , First United Methodist Church, 2 PM