BLOOMINGTON, Ill – Businesses in downtown Bloomington came together once again to celebrate the once a month First Friday event.
As the sun set on December 2nd, businesses in Bloomington lit their trees and put on costumes to celebrate this month’s theme of “Once Upon a Holiday”.
One such business was La La Boutique, owned and operated by Erica Zilm, with a live window featuring the opportunity for a photo with Buddy the Elf from the 2003 film “Elf” featuring Will Ferrell.
“My husband Joshua is no stranger to attention and putting himself out there. We did Buddy the Elf last year for our holiday window, and it was a huge hit, the kids loved it.” said Zilm.
Helping along with the exhibit was the rest of Erica’s family, dressed up as other elves, with the company of Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus.
This Christmas season marks the most removed holiday season businesses and customers have been from the Covid-19 pandemic since 2020. Zilm explains that “Once Upon a Holiday, there is just something extra special about it, it feels like the true kickoff to the holiday season. Especially after having a couple years where we didn’t have any of that just makes it even more special.”
Businesses and citizens alike joined together with their community to kickoff this holiday season. Among the music filling the streets as carolers sang, many other businesses did their part to participate in the fun.
Red Raccoon game store presented a live window of two children in Christmas sweaters playing many of their board games in store.
Crossroads Fair Trade Goods and Gifts opened their window to a lively band of three wise women.
With a similar theme to La La Boutique, Ivy Lane Bakery’s window was the napping spot of another Buddy the Elf, while the rest of the cast was inside serving cookies and hot chocolate.
The event ended at 8pm