MACFest + Downtown Mesa Indie Fest > THE BIG WE Take-Over on Main Street

Good Ole' Kris Kringle was getting his jollies on inside the window at Gunell's Jewelry Store seeing the turnout on Main Street for Small Business Saturday, November 28, 2015.
It's not quite all merry and a winter wonderland yet, but word is getting out when MACFest adds two more days to their calendar schedule to collaborate with the Downtown Merchants Association and The City of Mesa for a big promotion November 27-Jan 3, 2016.
Valley Metro Light Rail is pitching in giving free rides on all the stops at Main Street Light Rail station platforms downtown from Country Club to Main to Mesa Drive, but of course you're more than welcome to walk or bike. See >> merrymainstreet.com

The message is: Get here for sights you might have reminisced about from days gone-by or get here for sights you never could have imagined happening in downtown Mesa.

For years the big seasonal draw attracting tens of thousands - some say 500,000 to one million visitors - has been the iconic display of biblical proportions at The Temple Lights across from Pioneer Park.
Like the Three Wise Men and their camels, and after seeing all the grounds and all the landscaping illuminated in spectacular displays, visitors will be wise to take advantage of getting on-board light rail at near-by Mesa Drive [where there's a PND lot holding 500 cars] to plan other activities at the same time in The New Urban Downtown Mesa. Go as far as Country Club Drive where you can get interactive with illuminated sculptures in The Twilight Garden.
Some downtown stores will stay open until 7 p.m. or later.
Back to Small Business Saturday, a one-day event but getting people more aware of the benefits of local shopping every day [see post with Miss Piggy as the American Express-sponsored official Diva and one other post on this site].

Stopping by the MACFest Information Booth to get the buzz from Karen Svoboda who's organized the downtown street fair for many years, up pops Michelle Skaarup , a very enthusiastic owner of Dickson's Jewelry Store, a long-established enterprise on Main Street celebrating 66 years, seen at right gushing to Steven about what a great day the shop is having.
The locally-owned shop that Michelle purchased from her aunt and uncle has prided itself on both keeping old customers and attracting new customers. Why?

Outstanding customer service that is the hallmark for small business that sets them apart from "big business" who don't either know or care or understand what their customers want.
Yours truly visited the store later taking this image of some of the sidewalk vendors on the north side of Main Street.

"Multi-tasking" Talking + Gift-wrapping

In a chat with Michelle inside the shop, she mentioned that this year there appears to be mutual benefits that increase business for both the pop-up MACFest vendors and the brick-and-mortar enterprises on Main Street.
Combined, they attract more visitors and shoppers downtown who might enjoy and appreciate what's happening downtown.
Most of the enterprises also use their own websites and Twitter and/or Facebook pages for public relations.
New features - and special offers - are updated all the time.
See more > https://www.facebook.com/DICKSONS-JEWELERS-170732946625/

But ya know, dear readers, nothing beats getting up-close and personal >>

Image of Michelle Skaarup and her King Charles Spaniel named "Bella"

OK. Enough of yours truly trying to get cute and cuddly . . . back outside to show more of MACFest http://www.macfestmesa.com/

Just a few of those offering fine handmade gifts

Navajo and Native American from six hours away by the Yazzie Family in Chinle, AZ.

Rick & Betty Walker, who live in Mesa, at their wood turnings booth with a yellow Hummer seen in the background cruising across Main Street



The Far Out Lady, who usually lives and shows her handmade colorful accessories in far-out Show Low, is for the first time this winter season participating in opportunities with MACFest

 

Not quite a "winter wonderland" yet, or maybe not even close to the maximum capacity of 125 people per hour, the rented 4,500 SF skating area next to City Hall Plaza and across from Mesa Arts Center is all decked-out with garlands, toy soldiers and holiday cheer.
It's also decked-out too much in visual clutter [cropped from this image] with the corporate banners for all the corporate sponsors, but at a price tag of about $44,000 for getting it here for everyone to enjoy as a top-notch feature for Merry Main Street, projected break-even figures for attendance and skate rentals might meet the mark to justify the idea's expense, taking into consideration the sponsorships that underwrite what the City Council directed the Chamber of Commerce to do.
Skate rentals are by the hour, with a $2 off coupon for purchases downtown.

 


Other offers can be found at downtownmesa.com and if you keep your eyes open you can some offers like this in front of Volstead Public House