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Hancock dresses for the shopping season

(Jon Jaehnig/For the Gazette) St. Vincent’s window display, unveiled Friday.

HANCOCK — Downtown Hancock businesses decorated for the Christmas season last week, just in time for the annual Christmas Walk Friday evening. A long-standing Black Friday tradition organized by the city of Hancock and the Hancock Business and Professionals Association, the Christmas Walk gives downtown businesses a chance to show off their Christmas spirit in time for the holiday shopping season.

While businesses can decorate however they choose, businesses that decorate in keeping with the year’s theme, can enter the window competition for a chance to win the top prize – a $200 advertising package with a local radio station. This year’s theme is “The Polar Express Comes to Hancock.”

“The Polar Express theme was fun and it was a lot easier than some of the themes,” said St. Vincent DePaul Store Manager Carla Johnson. 

The store even brought an old Christmas Walk tradition – papering over their windows while building their display. 

“I would like to have the prize,” she said. “That’s always my aim, but it’s never the ultimate goal.”

(Jon Jaehnig/For the Gazette) The window display of The Flower Shop in Hancock.

While many businesses, including the St. Vincent DePaul Store, focused on the popular children’s book and film, the Polar Express, others took more liberty.

“My grandfather worked for the Copper Range Railroad, so I have a lot of documents and artifacts,” said Flower Shop owner Melissa Goulette. 

The window of her business is decorated with a model train, an antique lantern, preserved railroad posters and flyers, and other decorations.

“I had the train memorabilia, and then I’m just using items that are available to purchase in my store,” she said.

Many businesses also open their doors to Christmas Walk attendees with extra promotions or activities. 

“I love what we do and I love opening people’s eyes to these wonderful machines,” said Sew Cranky owner Ginger Alberti. 

Sew Cranky, a store that sells, repairs, and trains people on antique sewing machines, had ornaments for visitors to make in a matter of minutes. 

“It’s just great for little kids that are busy with candy and cookies and things,” said Alberti.

The Christmas Walk was a one-day event, but the decorations will be up throughout the holiday season.

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