Hundreds Flock to Winter Village for Festive Shopping

DULUTH, Minn. — The lack of snow and comfortable temperatures had people out and about at the Duluth Winter Village at the DECC.

Local businesses, a majority from Canal Park and Lincoln Park, sat along the Irvin in wooden cabins for the last day of the winter village.

Wintergreen Northern Wear was there for it’s second year setting up a pop-up shop. Their extreme winter gear is designed, sourced, cut, and sewn by a team in Ely, Minn.

“This is a great venue, it’s a great place for quite a few people at one time to come through and take a look, visit with us. Our business has been around for almost 40 years,” said Jackson Harren, the owner of Wintergreen Northern Wear. “So it’s interesting to explain and talk about our brand to new people as well as seeing some of our clothing that’s 30-40 years old walking by in the streets.”

In all, more than 50 small businesses turned out for this weekend’s winter village selling baked goods, ornaments, clothes, artwork, Christmas cards, and more. Hundreds stopped by hoping to complete some holiday shopping.

“I am definitely looking to buy some holiday gifts for my parents and maybe some for my other family members,” said shopper Rachel Menzel. “I prefer to shop local. I think that it is rewarding to be supporting local artists and people who started their own businesses and I think it’s definitely more sentimental.”