LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Louisville and the Louisville Independent Business Alliance (LIBA) will take shoppers on a whirlwind tour of local shops and restaurants Nov. 30 on its second annual Holiday Cards Buy Local Shopping Tour.
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The bus tour will take patrons to locally owned businesses in Louisville neighborhoods. The $35 trip includes opening and closing receptions, door prizes and transportation to more than a dozen shops on Barrett Avenue, East Market Street (NULU), Frankfort Avenue, Mellwood Avenue and in Butchertown.
“Our goal is to expose our faculty, staff and friends to many of the shops and restaurants that make Louisville such a special place,” said John Drees, one of the organizers of the event. “This event supports the local business community and helps our shoppers find many items you can find only in these unique stores.”
The activities will begin with festive drinks and a light breakfast at the University Club at 8 a.m. Shoppers will then board a bus about 9 a.m. and head to a series of stops, including several stores that will be open only to the group. The group will return to the club for a closing reception from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. that will feature free holiday decorating and mixology demonstrations and samples, hot hors d’oeuvres and door prizes.
Shoppers who purchase from at least five stores will be entered into the LIBA “Shift Your Shopping Contest,” which includes a drawing for a $1,000 Buy Local shopping spree.
LIBA seeks to preserve the unique character of Metro Louisville by promoting locally owned businesses and by educating citizens on the value of buying locally. For more information on LIBA and a member list, visit www.keeplouisvilleweird.com.
Registration deadline is Nov. 26. For a more detailed itinerary and more information on the Holiday Cards Buy Local Shopping Tour, go to: Louisville.edu/events. To register, call Alice Wissel at (502) 852-3533.