This past Friday, Sackville residents were greeted with open doors, warm smiles and some chilly weather during the town’s annual Moonlight Madness.
The yearly event takes place just before the holiday season begins. This year, there will be two Moonlight Madness evenings – the first on November 19, and the second on December 3. During the event, Sackville’s businesses open their doors for customers later than usual and offer deals on their products. This year, the downtown was lit up by the Tree Lighting Ceremony, the sounds of happy customers, and the smell of hot chocolate. The sidewalks were flooded with vendors selling their products and buskers playing songs for all to hear. There were activities at the public library, wagon rides, performances from the Bordertown Festival, and even a visit from Santa Claus, who made it to Sackville from the North Pole. Moonlight Madness is also an excellent opportunity to get your stamps for the Holiday Passport, which can be found at most local businesses in Sackville.
The event, which was previously titled Midnight Madness, ran from the morning of the 19th until 11 PM. Some businesses offered deals during their normal store hours, while some stayed open past their typical closing time.
Staying in his store late felt like a normal Friday evening for Chris Harbourne, co-owner of Vortex Games. The store is Sackville’s one-stop shop for all things game related, including Magic, Pokémon, Warhammer, board games, painting supplies, and much more.
For Moonlight Madness, Vortex offered their ‘tried, tested and true’ D6 sale, which they have been using for many years. Shoppers with purchases over thirty dollars roll three six-sided dice, and the number they roll will equal their discount.
Although Vortex Games has a loyal customer base, Harbourne looks forward to Moonlight Madness, as it brings new customers to his newly-renovated store.
“[Moonlight Madness] tends to bring out more people that don’t always shop locally throughout the rest of the year,” said Harbourne. “We are fortunate that we have a pretty loyal client base, but it brings in people for holiday shopping, and people who just happen to walk by and say ‘Oh, this isn’t the Dollar Store anymore!'”
Only steps away from Vortex Games, the Great Canadian Dollar Store’s lights were shining equally as bright. Employee Sara Hicks donned her signature red apron with a little toy giraffe in one of the pockets as she sold household necessities at a discounted price. Just in time for the holiday season, the store’s Christmas candies were being sold, and the store stayed open until 10 PM.
Hicks enjoyed the new customers and the great sales that Moonlight Madness brought through the store’s doors.
“We get awesome sales and we love new people coming into our store.” Said Hicks. “[We love] walking around and sharing the Holiday spirit. It’s so much fun.”
Sackville’s stores will open up to the night air once again on December 3 for the second and final Moonlight Madness evening of the year. Sackville residents can anticipate many of the same events, and some fun new events, including fireworks.
