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Designer Alex Vinash was inspired by skiing the Swiss Alps for the holiday display at American Beech. (Credit: Krysten Massa)

Greenport Village storefronts are upping the ante on holiday decorating this season. The inaugural Winter Wonderland holiday walk has united more than 65 local businesses in a spirited holiday display competition. 

Visitors are invited to walk through the village to check out the shop, hotels and restaurants to judge which business is the best at decking the halls. Some of the businesses will be staying open later and refreshments will be served at select stops on the walk, which runs from 4 to 8 p.m. on Saturdays until Christmas.

“It is a friendly competition all to beautify the town,” said Brent Pelton owner of American Beech, which is sponsoring the event along with the Greenport Village Business Improvement District. “We just thought this would be a really good way to showcase the beauty of Greenport. There is a lot of enthusiasm for it right now in the community.”

Pelton and his partner Alex Vinash came up with the idea for the holiday walk during a recent trip to Nantucket that hosts an annual holiday stroll with a similar concept.

“We thought we could do the same thing here,” Pelton said. “We really want everyone to consider coming to Greenport [in the winter] and purchasing gifts locally. It is a charming experience. You can’t get that on Amazon.”

There are three voting categories: shops, restaurants/bars and hotels/bed-and-breakfasts. A panel of judges will award a $350 cash prize for best overall display and a $150 cash prize will be given to the overall people’s choice winner. The prize money was donated by the BID. There are also American Beech gift cards up for grabs for the people’s choice winner in each category.

But it is not just the businesses that can win. Submit your vote at American Beech, Greenport Harbor Brewery, Crinoline Fashion Boutique, Little Creek Oysters, Greenport Wine & Spirits or Alex Vinash Boutique for a chance to win gift certificates from Greenport Wines & Spirits and a $250 gift certificate to American Beech.

Votes will be tabulated and announced at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 22 at American Beech.

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