Several Main Street events happening late this week

WASHINGTON — A handful of Main Street Washington events are on the calendar heading into this weekend, as the organization plans activities ahead of Valentine’s Day.

First is an online gift basket auction from Feb. 6-8, marking a third year of the fundraiser. Main Street Director Samantha Meyer said the roughly 40 arrangements were donated by businesses, board members and a few other volunteers; each is packed with goodies from wine bottles to sweatshirts, not necessarily all Valentine-themed.

Meyer said she hoped to raise $5,000 from the auction in 2025, slightly more than in years past. The money will be used for downtown outdoor decorations in all four seasons, on top of the group’s wintertime displays.

“People have parties downtown, weddings and we just want to make it kind of picture-perfect,” she said. “When that stuff’s it the background, it looks really nice. And we’re in a position to do those decorations with the parks, so that’s our goal.”

A link to the online auction is available in the online version of this article.

Overlapping with the auction dates is Main Street’s Galentine’s Day “Sip & Stroll,” on Feb. 7 from 3-7 p.m., wherein participants pay for a $5 ticket to access exclusive drinks, deals and activities at several participating stores. A ticket also comes with a map of the shops involved.

A slight rebrand from previous years’ “Sip & Shop,” the event this year will be held on a Friday, instead of a Thursday. Meyer said participating store owners were hopeful about the lack of sporting event conflicts, and the more relaxed atmosphere of a Friday evening at the end of the work week.

“Usually when it’s a Thursday, it’s kind of like, ‘Well, do I want to go out, do I want to stay late?’” she said. “And some of them have gift cards or coupons. So if you came Friday and didn’t have enough time to shop, you get a gift card if you want to come back that weekend.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com