All Night Shopping

November 19, 2021

Medicine Hat is celebrating its annual Holiday event, Midnight Madness, on Nov. 19. The event invites all businesses to open their doors from 4p.m. to 12a.m., as well as vendors to sell inside the historic buildings in the downtown area.

Regional events manager for Heritage Events Leah Clewlow says The Beveridge Building will host its third annual Sip n’ Shop the night of Midnight Madness. Sip n’ Shop is held on the third floor of the Beveridge Building, which also has The Mezz on the first and second floor and the The 1911 Lounge in the basement. 24 vendors will sell hand-made products while the venue offers alcoholic beverages like, cranberry mimosa, mulled wine and jingle juice.

“Downtown Medicine Hat offers restaurants and boutiques that larger cities have, and Midnight Madness is a great way to attract people downtown and remind them what is here,” says Clewlow. “Seeing the community come together for this one night is so important for all us business owners, because it kicks off Christmas shopping for residents and the Holiday season for everyone.”

She says there will be live music at multiple locations and hay rides to keep families and friends entertained while they walk from store to store. The inviting size of the downtown encourages the community to visit all the locally owned businesses during this event.

“There are many new businesses opening downtown, and we’re all so close together. The walking ability to experience every store and restaurant is absolutely possible,” says Clewlow. “Every downtown business is included in this event. Even our outdoor businesses, like Moose and Squirrel Artisan Village and The Yard, will be open.”

Shylo-Dawn Gjerloug says this event also supports businesses who don’t have a storefront in the downtown area. Her online clay jewelry boutique, Dawn and Dusk Clay Co., will be set up at Hutchinson’s Block, along with other online businesses Shey and Lyna Naturals, Burk n Co Creative and Verix Athletics.

“This is my third year selling at Midnight Madness, and it’s a really important event for us small businesses who mostly sell online to meet new people and reach a larger shopping audience,” she says. “The businesses in the downtown area are extremely supportive and always welcome us vendors to set up shop in their space.”

Gjerloug loves how all the businesses in downtown Medicine Hat are locally owned and all offer distinct products. From coffee shops, to clothing shops and places like The Hat’s Olive Tap, she says any resident or visitor would find something they like or find the perfect gift for someone special in their life.

“I always look forward to this event as a business owner, and it’s become such a staple event that the whole community looks forward to,” says Gjerloug. “It benefits the downtown community and beyond, and I’ve really enjoyed selling my products and meeting community members these last three years.”

The Beveridge Building is located at 620 2 Street S.E. and online at https://thebeveridge.ca.

Dawn and Dusk Clay Co. can be found online at https://dawn-dusk-clay-co.myshopify.com.