Heart of Brevard Announces Plans for 2020 Holiday Season

Heart of Brevard announced Thursday that the remainder of the 2020 event season will be held virtually. While events will look differently than they have in the past, Heart of Brevard is excited about the creative alterations they have planned to provide safe and festive community celebrations for the upcoming holiday season.

The COVID-19 pandemic, which has resulted in restrictions on large gatherings, is driving the decision, said Nicole Bentley, Executive Director with the Heart of Brevard.  Heart of Brevard organizes several community events each year, including the White Squirrel Festival and the Independence Day Celebration. “We certainly share in the disappointment so many are feeling that we won’t be celebrating events together downtown,” said Bentley,  These decisions are based on making sure that we are respecting and caring for our all who are involved in our events.”

Halloweenfest, the popular fall festival held in Downtown Brevard, is going virtual this October with a creative spin. This year’s events will offer a weekend of online activities including an online costume contest, make-up and pumpkin carving tutorials, and a special interview with a Vampire, Transylvania’s own, Dracula. Halloweenfest activities will begin the week before Halloween and will run through November 1. 

Heart of Brevard will partner with the Transylvania Times to promote the annual Pumpkin Carving Contest in downtown. For the first time in the competition’s history, downtown merchants are invited to participate by displaying their decorated pumpkins at their business downtown for judging. 

Twilight Tour will also feature virtual events leading up to the holidays, including the first annual Downtown Holiday Window Competition and Walking Tour. The tour will showcase participating downtown businesses and encourage local holiday shopping. A panel of local “celebrity” judges will score the window displays based on creativity, originality, use of merchandise and WOW factor. 

More information about Halloweenfest and Twilight Tour will be available later this month. For updates and information, follow Heart of Brevard on Facebook and Instagram.

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Heart of Brevard 501(c)(3) is a North Carolina Main Street Community, designated by the NC Department of Commerce and Main Street & Rural Planning Center.  Heart of Brevard is a recognized leading program among the national network of more than 1,200 neighborhoods and communities who share both a commitment to creating  high-quality places and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. All 

Main Street America™ programs meet a set of National Accreditation Standards of Performance as outlined by the National Main Street Center