12 Days of Merriment in Georgetown! December 8, 2011

As cheerful and grand as the holiday season, 12 Days of Merriment in Georgetown is full of exclusive holiday promotions, playful contests and activities, and discount parking deals to make holiday shopping that much easier. From Friday, December 9 through Tuesday, December 20, the community is invited to come out and play in Georgetown this holiday season. The charming neighborhood will feature 12 days of Merriment: everything from gourmet hot cocoa tastings to helpful "Shop for Her/Him" parties at neighborhood merchants and even an ugly holiday sweater contest.



The neighborhood's much-loved annual Merriment event has expanded this year to include 12 days of festive fun, radiating the same charming yuletide spirit that the neighborhood is known for. During the 12 days, Georgetown will be a shopper's dream with exclusive in-store specials at participating merchants. With more than 500 stores, restaurants, salons and spas within a one-mile radius, and 25 stylish new merchants just-opened this year like AllSaints Spitalfields, Brooks Brothers, Rag & Bone, Athleta, Fleurir Chocolates, Sterling & Burke and more, Georgetown will be the place to shop for everyone on the gift list.



Participating merchants throughout the neighborhood will also offer tons of playful promotions like shoppers' relief cocktails and pampering stations, Holiday Shopping Halftime happy hours where guests can take a break from shopping with some NFL games and specials, classic holiday movie screenings and more.



Getting to Georgetown will be even easier this holiday season, with discount parking specials at select garages throughout the promotion. Capital Bikeshare riders will also be rewarded for conserving energy while shopping, with special discounts and/or gifts at participating merchants when they show their Capital Bikeshare key.



On Saturday, December 10 from 1 - 4 p.m., Georgetown is inspiring some holiday spirit with a Merriment in Georgetown Kick-Off Party. Bringing back some of last year's favored events like the holiday-style "Don't Forget the Lyrics" and gluttonous Fruitcake Eating contests, the event will also offer gourmet Hot Cocoa Tastings from some of Georgetown's premier restaurants and sweetest shops, plus holiday karaoke and pet adoptions. Guests are also invited to wear their most hideous, outdated or downright silly holiday sweaters for a chance to win some fabulous prizes from local merchants. Free pedicab rides will be available for attendees that afternoon from the Dupont Circle and Foggy Bottom-GWU metro stations to Georgetown from 12 p.m. - 4 p.m.



A list of participating merchants and schedule of events will be available in mid-November. For more information, please visit www.merrimentingeorgetown.com.