VERO BEACH — Shoppers can kick off the holiday shopping season on the right foot at Moonlight Madness presented by Vero Beach Fashion Outlets. The round-the-clock shopping event begins with a preview party on Thanksgiving evening, Thursday, Nov. 24 at 8:30 p.m. and wraps up at 9 p.m. the following day, Friday, Nov. 25.
At 10 p.m. most stores will open and the center will conduct a special tree-lighting ceremony on Thursday evening.
1) Preview Party/Prize Registration/Live Entertainment, 8:30 p.m. to Midnight, Nov. 24
2) Shopping, 10 p.m. Nov. 24 to 9 p.m. Nov.
3) Prize Drawings, 10 p.m. to Midnight Nov. 24
4) Tree Lighting Ceremony, 10 p.m., Nov. 24
5) Breakfast with Hamp, 7 to 9 a.m., Nov. 25
6) 104 Ways to Win Christmas, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Nov. 25
Thanksgiving revelers can replace their post-turkey blahs with an evening of frivolity and fashion at the Moonlight Madness preview party, which will feature an outdoor concert performed by The Riptides.
In addition to getting the scoop on special sales, guests can register to win one of 18 prizes before 10 p.m. that will be awarded periodically as the clock winds down to midnight, with a grand prize drawing as the clock strikes 12.
The “The Breeze, 93.7 FM” and “Jack 99.7 FM” will be providing entertainment and announcing winners of prizes that include a variety of items ranging in value from $100 to over $1,000. Food and specialty vendors will also offer specialties along the promenade.
A VIP Hospitality Suite will provide a shopping sanctuary for 75 lucky contest winners. The Breeze 93.7 FM is airing a Moonlight Madness VIP contest the week of November 14.
Winners will enjoy 10.5 hours of VIP exclusive access to the Vero Beach Fashion Outlet Hospitality Suite, which will be appointed with refreshments and food from 8:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. the following morning. Winners will also have access to VIP-only parking and private bathrooms.
Each winner will receive a shopping survival package chocked full of goodies and will be allowed to invite one guest to enjoy the red carpet room with them. Two of the 75 bags will contain a $50 or $100 gift certificate. Contestants must be age 18 or over to participate.
“Last year we welcomed tens of thousands of shoppers at Vero Beach Fashion Outlets over the Thanksgiving holiday,” explained Lisa Quier Wagner, marketing director and partner, EW+B Development. “We’re looking forward to rolling out the red carpet again this year and kicking off ‘Black Friday’ shopping in a big way. Most of the stores will feature special sales on Thanksgiving weekend and Moonlight Madness will give shoppers a head start on their holiday weekend shopping.”
As the sun rises the morning after Moonlight Madness, activities will heat up once again at Vero Beach Fashion Outlets where early bird shoppers can enjoy a complimentary continental breakfast with well-known radio personality Hamp Elliott at the “Ocean 99.8 FM” live radio remote in front of Tommy Hilfiger from 7-9 a.m.
Midday shoppers will delight in celebrating “104 Ways to Win at Christmas” that features an interactive component and an opportunity for shoppers to win one of 104 fun prizes including free tickets to live performances in the area, $250 cash, one of three $100 Vero Beach Fashion Outlets gift certificates, Miami Dolphin tickets, music CDs, and a variety of other items.
Look for the 12-foot holiday tree and join in on the fun provided by “The Flame 104.7 FM” from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Popular DJ, Aaron G, will be dressing up in his holiday suit and putting shoppers in a festive mood as he traverses the center in his custom-made sleigh with free giveaways.
The only true outlet center in the region, Vero Beach Fashion Outlets is home to stores bearing some of the best known names in fashion, including Ann Taylor Factory Store, Banana Republic Factory Store, BCBGMAXAZRIA, Brooks Brothers Factory Outlet, Calvin Klein, Chico’s Outlet, Coach Factory Store, J. Crew, Crocs Outlet, Jones New York, Justice, Nike and Tommy Hilfiger. Conveniently located on Route 60, West of I-95 at Exit 147, Vero Beach Fashion Outlets regular hours are from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
For more information about Fashion’s Night Outlet and Vero Beach Fashion Outlets, including directions and a complete list of stores, visit www.verobeachoutlets.com.