Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and there is no better way to enjoy the holiday than taking a romantic carriage ride with your sweetheart in historic downtown Easton.

Easton Economic Development Committee (EEDC) has announced a series of Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides for Valentine’s Day weekend. Carriage ride tickets will be available Friday, February 12 through Sunday, February 14, from 2:00-6:00 p.m. The carriage will board in front of the Tidewater Inn (101 E Dover St) and provide an elegant tour of the downtown district.

Rides can be scheduled in-person starting at 1:30 p.m. each day with the first ride starting at 2:00 p.m. Each horse-drawn carriage ride is $20 with a maximum capacity of four adult riders or two adults and three children. EEDC asks guests to arrive early to schedule a ride time and then visit downtown shops and restaurants before and after the tour to support local small businesses.

“We are excited to provide carriage rides for couples and families to enjoy on Valentine’s Day weekend,” EEDC Downtown Development Director Jeff Lankford said. “The rides may be on the chilly side depending on the weather, but we hope that brings couples closer together as they enjoy downtown, Easton.”

Face coverings will be required at registration and during the open-air rides. The carriage will be sanitized between riders, and participants will be asked to follow all posted guidelines during the event.

There will be opportunities for photos with the horses from the Tanglao Carriage Driving company during each session. Carriage company owner Jess Tanglao has been in the horse-drawn carriage business for over ten years and an equestrian since the age of 3. This is the first downtown tour her company has provided in Easton, and she hopes it will not be her last.

“We want to come out to Easton again and again,” Jess Tanglao said. “Please come see us Valentine’s Day weekend, sign up for a ride time, and then enjoy the town until your assigned ride time comes.”

In case of inclement weather, the event may be canceled. For more information and weather-related updates, visit www.eastonedc.com or follow EEDC’s Facebook page @EastonEDC.

About Easton Economic Development Corporation:
Easton Economic Development Corporation was launched in 2013 to drive economic vitality, smart redevelopment, and business creation in the historic Town of Easton, Maryland, to foster a healthy quality of life for all generations. The EEDC works to catalyze Greater Easton’s continued prosperity as a diverse and healthy “smart town,” leading innovation where the land and water meet.

This Sunday is the final chance to participate in the Shop Sundays Holiday Raffle in downtown Easton. Every $10 spent at participating locations supports local merchants and earns shoppers a chance to win downtown Easton gift cards.

Earlier this month, Easton Economic Development Corporation (EEDC) launched the new holiday event to promote retailers and restaurants in downtown Easton that extend their shopping hours and open on Sundays. The marketing and promotions advocate for shopping locally this holiday season to help out merchants still affected by the pandemic.

“The response to the holiday raffle has been very positive,” Downtown Development Director Jeff Lankford said. “We have exceeded our expectations in both the number or locations participating and the number of raffle tickets we needed to print and distribute.”

Consumers enter the raffle by shopping or dining at participating retailers and restaurants on Sundays in December. Eight entries have already been selected to win Downtown Easton Cards; a new digital gift card redeemable at various downtown establishments. The gift card program was also launched by EEDC in early December to help keep local dollars local.

“It’s so wonderful to have the Town’s support in keeping our businesses alive,” Chesapeake Blooms co-owner Samantha McCall said. “To be a part of a network and to know our other neighbors down the street are also benefiting from something just feels good, it feels like it’s part of the Christmas spirit.”

On Wednesday, December 23, EEDC will select the final five raffle tickets and announce winning numbers online at www.EastonEDC.com. Four winners will receive a $100 Downtown Easton Card and a grand prize winner will receive a $300 Downtown Easton Card. Shoppers that have already earned raffle tickets but have not yet won are still qualified to win the remaining prizes.

“We have so many merchants here in Easton that are doing everything they can to meet the needs of the public while providing safe and flexible shopping opportunities,” Lankford said. “They need your support now and will need support well into 2021.”

Look for Shop Sundays Holiday Raffle posters in store windows of participating downtown Easton locations. For more information on Shop Sundays Holiday Raffle and the Downtown Easton Card, visit www.EastonEDC.com.

About Easton Economic Development Corporation:
Easton Economic Development Corporation was launched in 2013 to drive economic vitality, smart redevelopment, and business creation in the historic Town of Easton, Maryland, to foster a healthy quality of life for all generations. The EEDC works to catalyze Greater Easton’s continued prosperity as a diverse and healthy “smart town,” leading innovation where the land and water meet.

Jeff Lankford new EEDC Director of Downtown Development

The Easton Economic Development Corporation (EEDC) is pleased to announce the hire of Jeffery (Jeff) Lankford as Director of Downtown Development, a new position to drive economic vitality, smart redevelopment, and business creation in the historic, downtown districts of Easton, Maryland. The role will be instrumental in furthering EEDC’s mission of fostering Easton’s continued growth as a diverse and healthy “smart town,” leading innovation where the land and water meet.

The Director of Downtown position was created after Easton Mayor Robert C. Willey designated the EEDC to administer Town funding for all economic development activities, including supporting business, activities, and events in the downtown as of October 1, 2020.  “Jeff is a welcomed addition to the team.” said Lloyd “Scott” Beatty, Chairman of the EEDC.  “His combination of hospitality and Easton Business Alliance experience makes him an ideal choice to lead the charge as we ensure the continued success of our existing downtown programming while stimulating and implementing new innovative and creative ideas to provide growth opportunities for our downtown businesses.”

Lankford has accepted the position after several years working as Marketing & Events Coordinator of Discover Easton, where he was responsible for fostering community and business relations through small business promotions and community activities.  In addition to Discover Easton, he brings over 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry as Operations Manager for Marriott International and Food and Beverage Director for Wyndham Hotels.

Says Lankford, “We have an opportunity, and an obligation, to bring all of our downtown businesses and stakeholders together over these next few months to not only solve short-term issues but create long-term change. I am excited to contribute to the process of identifying those opportunities and leading the work that will make them a reality for the downtown business community.”

The EEDC will hold a meeting with the community in November to outline opportunities, initially proposed projects, and a process by which the community can become engaged in the ideation, recommendation, and implementation of downtown economic development strategies.

“Key to our future success will be building on the work of existing organizations, such as the Easton Business Alliance, ensuring that this reorganization results in the continuation and expansion of successful programming, the enhancement of our downtown maximizing the tax payer’s investment,” said Tracy Ward, Executive Director of the EEDC.

Easton Economic Development Corporation was launched in 2013 to drive economic vitality, smart redevelopment, and business creation in the historic Town of Easton, Maryland, to foster a healthy quality of life for all generations. The EEDC works to catalyze Greater Easton’s continued prosperity as a diverse and healthy “smart town,” leading innovation where the land and water meet.