Vienna launches bingo-style contest to encourage community to shop local for the holidays

‘Tis the season to shop local, according to the Vienna Business Association.

The VBA and a downtown partner, Bards Alley Bookshop, collaborated with dozens of businesses and organizations to offer a Holiday Shopping Pass to urge community members to support stores in the Town of Vienna.

Customers who make purchases at five or more participating businesses are put into a Jan. 4 drawing to win gift cards.

The initiative began Monday (Nov. 15) and runs until the end of the year. Over 100 prizes — mainly $25 gift cards — are available, according to the Vienna Business Association.

“There’s a really good chance for people to win,” VBA Executive Director Peggy James said.

Customers can download a pass or pick it up in partnering stores. When they make a purchase, they have to get their card initialed.

James said there’s no limit to how many passes each person can submit. You can also save paper by having a pass record purchases at 10 or more businesses.

“You can play over and over,” James said. “And we encourage people to do that.”

Businesses range from Ben & Jerry’s to the Mediterranean restaurant Zenola and a new bakeshop, Madeleine Proust (448 Maple Ave. East). The contest also ranges slightly outside Vienna’s town limits to include a square for Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts.

While the Holiday Shopping Pass was designed to reward people who support local businesses, James encouraged people to shop local at non-participating businesses as well.