The Rye Chamber of Commerce announced over the weekend that it would be canceling Rye’s annual Mistletoe Magic festivities this year due to a lack of funding.
Just before Halloween, organizers warned of a possible cancellation if they couldn’t come up with approximately $25,000.
“We have held out for the hope that the situation would improve or there might be a benevolent soul to help rescue the cause, but that has not come to pass,” the chamber’s Executive Board said in a statement on Sunday.
Mistletoe Magic is an annual holiday tradition that transforms Purchase Street into a full-on winter wonderland. Last year, the 22nd annual event boasted a chili cook-off, holiday trolley, face painting, carnival games, bouncy house for kids, downtown tree lights – and of course, a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus.
The chamber relies on financial support from local businesses to support the event, but Rye Chamber of Commerce President Brian Jackson told The Record last month that the chamber is facing a major drop in contributions from downtown merchants.
“A combination of real inflationary pressures, import tariffs, slowing economy and the public now conditioned to shopping online, rather than downtown, are amongst many of the reasons why our strongest supporters are unable to donate this year,” the board said on Sunday.
Making the decision to cancel the event this year “devastating,” according to the board.
“Mistletoe Magic has always been meant to be a grateful thank you from the member businesses to our community for all of the support they have shown us throughout the year,” the statement said. “Not having the several thousand families and children downtown and enjoying this treasured tradition is all the more devastating.”
