The 3rd annual Lower Mills Holiday Stroll will take place on Thursday, November 18th from 5:30 to 8:00 pm in Lower Mills in Dorchester and Milton Village. Over 30 businesses will stay open late offering refreshments, special discounts, and/or displaying work from local artists.
At St. Gregory’s auditorium on Dorchester Avenue, strollers can enjoy the sounds of a steel band, have their picture taken with Santa, sample food from local restaurants, and receive a free reusable shopping tote; strollers can enter the free raffle for an IPad, gift certificates and other prizes (winners to be announced the next day). At the Lower Mills Branch Library, there will be live music by the Crusaders Senior Corps, and activities for the kids. Aidan’s Barbershop is hosting a barbershop quartet again this year.
On Adams Street, MAFCU (1205 Adams St.) will host Santa’s workshop and offer hot chocolate for chilly strollers. Across the street at Standish Village, they will have pie and cider.
The Walter Baker Artists’ Lofts (1231 Adams Street) will feature live music, resident artists exhibiting their work in their studios, as well as other local artists. Anthony Sammarco, local historian and author, will be signing his book “The Baker Chocolate Company: A Sweet History” and his latest publication “Milton: A Compendium”. Strollers can have their picture taken as La Belle Chocolatier, the famous Walter Baker Chocolate trademark.
On the Milton side, the Forbes House Museum will be hosting an open house, and several businesses at the Adams Building (60 Adams Street) will be open for the evening. This year, the Stroll has expanded to the Central Avenue business district, including Cakes Bakery, Esprit Du Vin, GKR Residential, Sullivan Insurance, Mackie’s Barber Shop and GKR Residential.
There will be a trolley running back & forth from the Milton and Dorchester sides; extra parking will be available at The Forbes House Museum at 215Adams Street in Milton (Adams Street will be open during the Stroll), and at CVS at 2235 Dorchester Avenue (across from St. Gregory’s auditorium) in Dorchester. Hot chocolate will be available at several stops along the stroll route.
The stroll will be held rain or shine. Look for the Red and gold balloons and maps at all participating sites. Coordinated by the Lower Mills Civic Association and Lower Mills Merchants Association. You can visit their web site here.