Rogers-Lowell Area News

Holidays on the Bricks Activities to Benefit Arkansas Children’s Foundation

Go Downtown Rogers, an association of businesses in Downtown Rogers, will host the 3rd Annual Holidays on the Bricks (HOTB) weekend Friday, Nov. 30 through Sunday, Dec. 2. HOTB consists of several festive events taking place throughout the downtown area to encourage people to shop, eat and enjoy the holiday atmosphere while raising money and collecting toys for the Arkansas Children’s Foundation. Among the attractions are: a free hot cocoa stand; strolling Christmas carolers; pictures with Santa; live music; collection boxes for Arkansas Children’s Foundation; pop-up art boutiques; Sips on the Bricks contest; the Sips After Party; and two prize drawings-one for a $100 gift basket and a downtown gift basket giveaway valued at more than $1,000.

The festivities kick off Friday, November 30, with a new event, Holiday Wish List 2018: participating merchants are offering an array of discounts for customers who fill out their Wish Lists ahead of time and return that Friday to do holiday shopping. Saturday is packed with a multitude of events including Cocoa in the Park where patrons can get free hot chocolate and candy canes at the beautifully decorated Centennial Park on 1st Street. There will be local school, community, and church choirs singing holiday songs up and down the streets spreading holiday cheer.

This year, Santa Claus will be welcoming children, posing for photos and checking the naughty and nice lists in a new location. He will greet children at the Rogers Experimental House (RxH), 121 W. Walnut, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday and from Noon – 4 p.m. Sunday. Children’s art activities and cookie decorating will also be available at the RxH from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday.

Also new this year is the addition of the Holidays on the Bricks Pop-Up Boutiques. Four businesses have invited regional artists to exhibit and sell their arts and crafts and participate in hands on workshops where they may create their own art. Hark & Herald, Rogers Experimental House, Envision Nutrition and Studio 300 NWA will showcase the talents of 17 artists from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday, December 1.

Downtown businesses are also focusing on giving back to the community again this year. More than a dozen businesses are participating in a toy and donation drive to raise money for the Arkansas Children’s Foundation (ACF) benefiting Arkansas Children’s Hospital Northwest. Sips on the Bricks, the largest of the HOTB mini events, is back again this year and again raising funds for the ACF.

“We have such fun with all the HOTB events, but it’s really about our community,” says The Rusty Chair owner, Julie Loose. “It’s a great feeling to know that we will be directly helping the new children’s hospital in our area.”

Sips on the Bricks takes place Saturday, Dec. 1 from 5 – 9 p.m. and is a holiday competition among businesses in downtown Rogers. A people’s choice vote determines which business created the most unique, festive, best-tasting holiday drink. A suggested donation of $10 allows patrons to receive a Sips on the Bricks card. The cards are available from each participating location in advance or the evening of the event (as long as it isn’t sold out). Cardholders may visit each business location throughout downtown Rogers to taste test their sips and cast a vote for their favorite overall holiday sip. The winning business will be announced the following day and every participating individual will earn a chance to win a $100 gift basket.

“It is a unique activity that a big group of friends can come do that isn’t your typical Saturday night,” says Melissa Turpin, owner of Honeycomb Kitchen Shop. “All the businesses really get into it and want to win, but at the end of the day we all know it is for a good cause and we will be helping the young patients of Arkansas Children’s Hospital Northwest.”

Saturday evening wraps up at The Cooking Studio of Downtown Rogers, 113 S. 2nd St., with the Sips After Party from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. Sips on the Bricks participants can use their Sips cards to enter the event. This event will feature sample appetizer plates for free, and wine and beer available for purchase. Enjoy live music, and have some more holiday fun with your friends. On Sunday, December 2, there will be holiday open houses throughout downtown and merchants will be opening their doors for extra shopping hours, unique gifts, great deals. One lucky shopper will win the Downtown Gift Basket Giveaway valued at over $1,000. Shoppers may enter the drawing now through December 2 at all participating merchants and view the prize package on display in the front window of The Urban Bath and Body Co. Must be 18 years old to enter.  

Sips on the Bricks card holders may pick up a card for a $10 suggested donation at any participating business and sample the drinks in any order from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. Saturday, December 1. The cards include a map of the route, a people’s choice award ballot and the option to be included in a drawing for a $100 gift basket.

Participating businesses include:

Honeycomb Kitchen Shop
Golden’s Designer Jewelry
Mollie Love
Avenue Design
Bodylove Naturals
The Urban Tub
The Dotted Pig
The Rusty Chair
Dandy Roll
Miss Judi’s Wisteria Lane
The Gathering in Rogers
Alexander Baking Co.
Woof & Wander
Fresh Harvest Tasting Room
The SaVvy Shopper 

Generous Sponsors for the 2018 Holidays on the Bricks include: Rick McLeod Farmers Insurance Agent; Simmons Bank; Pet Supplies Plus; Steve Landers Toyota NWA; Barbee Equipment Inc.; Garner Building Supply; Forward Engineers; Erin Wiggins Reinker of RIN Interiors; Harding University Northwest Arkansas; Gateway Mortgage Group, LLC; Cooking Studio of Downtown Rogers; Dandy Roll; Arvest Bank; Cleaner Solutions; Barton Consulting, LLC; JKJ Architects; Profile by Sanford; Wesner’s Grill and Benchmark Group.

Christmas Carols will be sung by: First United Methodist Church; Dazzling Diamonds Chorus; Northside Elementary, Rogers Heritage High School; Haas Hall Academy-Rogers; First Baptist Olive Street and Arkansas Arts Academy.