Portland's East End Shops are buzzing with preparations for the annual Holiday Stroll, which takes place Sat. Dec. 5th from 11 - 6 pm. Neighborhood businesses, aglow with lights and music, will offer strolling shoppers delicious treats, special deals, and a festive atmosphere in which to kick off the holiday season. There will be warming stations at various locations for strollers to toast cold hands and sip warm beverages, and like last year, there will be a special raffle: shoppers who visit five or more locations on the Stroll and get their raffle card punched will be entered to win a prize from their favorite spot. The raffle cards will be available at each location where a prize will be offered.

In the East End, new businesses have joined long-established ones to form a wildly eclectic mix that is alluring to those looking for unusual or locally-made holiday gifts. Original artwork, hand-printed cards, fabrics and fibers, ceramics and jewelry, antique books and hand-dipped truffles are just a few of the good things one can find in this part of town. And there are many excellent places to fortify oneself with fabulous food, drink and sweets, many of which are on the Holiday Stroll. All of this could add up to the perfect December shopping day: stroll, discover wonderful things, nibble, check off list, support local economy....and everyone goes home happy!

For more information on the East End Holiday Stroll, visit eastendshops.com.

The East End Shops include the following businesses:

Angela Adams
Arm Factory Screen Printing
Arthur Fink Photography
Bar Lola
Blue Spoon
Carlson Turner Books
Coffee by Design
Davanti Hair Salon
Dean's Sweets
Duckfat
Earth and Soul
Eli Phant
Ember Grove
Emilie Inc. Photography
Ferdinand
Ferricchia Hair Salon
Field
Figa
Fraser Art Studio
Homegrown Herb & Tea
Hugo's
Katie Made Bakery
KnitWit Yarn Shop
Laura Fuller Design Studio
Maine Mead Works
Micucci's
North Star Music Cafe
Old Port Specialty Tile Co.
Pepperclub/Good Egg Cafe
Portland Fiber Gallery
Portland Observatory
Rabelais
Rosemont Market on the Hill
Running With Scissors Studios
Silly's Restaurant
St. Lawrence Arts Center
The Body Architect
Two Fats Cats Bakery
Willa Wirth Silver Design
Z Fabrics
Zero Station