Here is a good idea.....I know it is a very, very busy time of year....but sometimes people have a little free time the week between Christmas and New Years.  It may seem early, but maybe try and get your team together.  Form a plan for your fund raising in the new year!  Have a computer or lap top available, get everyone signed up online.....get a picture on your site!  Having all of this done before the Relay "season" and meetings start, cause a lot less confusion and last minute decisions! 

As Christmas approaches....there are several ways you can raise money for your team.  You can ask for donations as a gift for yourself......you can offer to wrap gifts for a donation....run errands for a friend, in exchange for a donation.  Be creative....not everything has to be a big fund raiser, or an "event" to raise money.  It all adds up and most important....it all matters!

Here is an idea you might think about as you are sending out your Christmas cards.  A team mate of mine always includes the web site to her personal Relay for Life page in her annual letter to her friends and family.  It is a great way to get the word out that she is participating in Relay and how they can learn about her efforts.  Remember....you can easily create your own personal URL!  Just sign into your page and follow the prompts!

Watch in upcoming posts for the above "Good Idea" picture.....I will be posting some good ideas for your fund raisers...things that you can do to help make your fund raising more successful.  Here is the "good idea".....be sure and always tell people to bring a friend...it is a wonderful way to expand your base of people that will come to your fund raisers and a great way to get new people involved in Relay.  Because....the more folks involved in Relay, the closer we all become to finding a cure and raising awareness!

Happy Thanksgiving is coming up!  Are you a talented pie baker?  It is a busy time of the year, but think about this.....if you make a great pie and have time to whip up extras...offer them to your friends for a Relay donation.  A lot of folks are too busy to bake, or maybe, like me...can't bake a good pie to save their life!  Make a few calls....print up a couple of fliers for the mail boxes in your neighborhood, throw it on Relay's Facebook page.... and see what happens.  If you take orders ahead of time, you won't have to buy things you do not need.  Figure up what it will cost you, and add a donation to make your total cost.  And....be sure and use my favorite hint in wording..."I am selling Pecan Pies for a minimum donation of $20".  You will get your $20 you are asking for, but in using the word minimum, you might just get $25.  Good luck and Happy Thanksgiving season!

Hi everyone....we did have a great Relay last year....it was just cut way too short by Mother Nature....But on to Relay for Life of Newtown 2011.  Take time to go back through the archives of this blog to look for fund raising ideas!  I will have some new ideas, and will also post some of the good ones and the never-fail ones again!  Speaking of never fail ones....before the weather gets TOO cold....try a Fall Bake Sale or a Fall Tag Sale!  It has been great to see so much fall fundraising going on this year!  And remember....the holiday season is around the corner.  Think about things you may want to try and sell to raise money for your Relay efforts.

See you all tomorrow....it is going to be a wonderful Relay........

6/2/2010 ~ Team Captain ~ T-shirt Pick Up Night

6:30 PM ~ Newtown Savings Bank, 39 Main Street

Just a reminder that tonight is Bank Night.....

ONE person from each team must come and pick up your team bag with t-shirts and turn in any money/checks.  And....youth and chaperon forms are due as well!

Some pictures from the Duck Race - soooo much fun!!!  The youth teams are just amazing - the things they come up with.  They are very creative and hardworking!!!

Icing on the Cake......Fund Raising the night of Relay is just that!!!  Icing on the Cake!!!  Yes, money is online already, but the money  you raise the night of Relay will go towards finding a CURE as well!!!  You certainly do not have to do any fund raising at Relay....just come and have a wonderful night, but if you do fund raise.....thank you!!!  See you in a few days!

Relay for Life is a very moving and touching event.  There are certain times that quiet is called for.  Please help out with this.  During the opening ceremony, the luminaria ceremony, fight back and closing ceremony it is very important to have quiet.  There are hours to talk and chat, these times, however are not the time for this.  If you can, please remind your team and especially please ask that any kids not toss balls or talk during this time, out of respect to those we are all at Relay to honor.  Help spread the word.....thanks so much....

A last minute chance - Fund Raising Idea #84.......Read the email below and if you are interested, follow-up with the contact and also CC Necole Salveson with an email to:
necoles277@earthlink.net....could be a great chance to make some last minute Relay money!!!
There is a baseball tournament this weekend Saturday, Sunday and Monday at the Fairfield Hills fields. They are looking for Relay teams to run the snack shack - NO COOKING or SWEATING needed!  Each team is invited to run the shack for a period of time during the following hours:  Saturday 9-4, Sunday 9-4, Monday 2-6. There are a bunch of baseball games throughout the weekend and they are playing out of town teams.  Each game has a MINIMUM of 24 families PER GAME!!  The Relay teams can sell candy, chips, popcorn, soda, water, etc. and MAKE MONEY for RELAY!!!  Anyone interested they can contact Joe Duffy at 203-364-0391 or jduffy14@charter.net and PLEASE CC Necole Salveson (see above).  NOTE....you will supply your own items to sell, and nothing hot please.  All your profits can go to your Relay team....

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Fund Raising Idea #83....Day of Idea.....Candy Store.....Kids and adults both love candy!  You could buy several bags of candy, get different jars and containers, and have your own candy store!  In the old days, they were called Penny Candy Stores....well, inflation, and maybe not a penny anymore, but the idea is you can buy one or two pieces for change!  Hit Target, Walmart, Dollar Store, Christmas Tree Store....they sell candy for a pretty good price.....and make it look nice and appealing and I bet you will have a lot of customers!!!

Fund Raising Idea #82....Day of Idea...I read about this on several Relay Day of Idea discussions.  Teams have a little General Store....Some of the items that were listed that they had a small supply of and sold:  Toilet Paper, Hand Wipes, Sunscreen, Bug Spray, Toothbrush Kit, Band Aids....you get the idea!  And of course, if it looks like we might have a rainy Relay again....go for those rain ponchos.  If you do decide to give this a try, make sure you have a catchy sign to get people to your store!

Fund Raising Idea #81....Day of Idea.....POPCORN.....good snack.  There will be food for sale at Relay of course, but people do love snacks and especially the folks that stay all night - they get hungry at 2am and 3am.....and, well you get it!  Popcorn, all bagged up and ready to munch on, even while walking around the track would probably be a good seller!!!

Fund Raising Idea #80....Day of Idea.....I keep reading on the many Relay for Life Fund Raising discussion boards about teams that do this.  They have a caricature artist at Relay.  This could be done one of two ways, if you know someone who does this, ask if they would donate their time and talent, even if only for a couple of hours.  If you happen to have an amazing artist on your team that can do this, that would be awesome!!!  I think people would line up to have their caricature done at Relay.....with the date, maybe the track, drawn in purple.....the sky is the limit, if you have a person who has this great talent!  I think this would be something that you could charge a fairly good amount for, as this would be a keepsake that would last a lifetime.  And.....maybe there is not enough time to pull this off this year, but think about it and do some research for next year.  Everything I read about it from teams that have done it, seems very positive.

We all get caught up in so much planning, fund raising, decorating....but remember, we are going to RELAY!!!  You should try and have at least one member of your team on the track at all times.  Some teams make schedules and post them, or each person knows their designated time to walk.  You certainly do not have to do that, but do try and remember to have someone walking.  And....sounds silly, but be sure and wear your comfortable sneakers.  Relay is not the day to break in new ones! 

Fund Raising Idea #79....Day of Idea....I talked in a previous blog about doing face painting.  But....if you don't have an artist on your team, how about Temporary Tatoos.  They are inexpensive and fun.  I had no idea, but in searching online I even discovered that Oriental Trading has Glow in the Dark ones - now, that would be fun.  Be sure you have a mirror if someone wants to see how it looks on their cheek and any supplies necessary to make them available and it is, of course, your decision as to what to charge!

Fund Raising Idea #78.....I found this online and it is pretty funny.  It is just another way to try and catch someone's attention!  A letter/email from your dog......  Below is what I found and it can obviously be adapted as needed.....have fun....I think I may have to send one out from my doggies, Heidi and Gretel to those few people I need to "gently remind" that they would love to make a donation to Relay for Life.

Canine Fundraising Letter/Email (Adopt As You See Fit)
Dear Friend,
Greetings, salutations, and a wag of my tail from Newtown, CT! I am writing
to you today because I know that my master needs my help. As you probably know, Robert has
always managed to get himself in some real “jams”. Well, this is no exception. In my three short
years with him he has managed to come up with some "doozies": Do you know what he has done
this time? He has promised to raise at least $100.00 in sponsorship for the upcoming
Relay For Life to benefit the American Cancer Society. He has teamed up with a bunch of other friends  who have agreed to take turns walking laps June 5-6.
 That is why I
"borrowed" his keys and drove over to his office last night in order to type those - this letter/email
(excuse me, but it is rather difficult to type with my big paws. My claws keep getting in the way).
I would appreciate it (and so would he) if you could help him out in any way possible with
his fund raising.  Your
tax-deductible donation would get him out of this jam(and help find a cure).  The link to his web page is:  www._____________ Thanks! I knew I
could count on you (us dogs are great judges of character)! Well, I gotta go now. It's time for me
to go bark at something. Take Care.
Sincerely,

Rover.......

Today is Luminaria Saturday......wonderful way to get the word out about Relay and to give folks the opportunity to purchase these moving tributes.  My internet has been down AGAIN, or I would have had this earlier - but if you see this, stop by Stop and Shop, Excel Tutoring or William Pitt Realty.  And....if you are having a fund raising event, please set up a little area to sell your Luminaria.  My team could not do Luminaria Saturday, but we will be selling them at the Duck Race.  Having a tag sale?  Be sure and sell them there.  There just is no more beautiful way to honor someone who has battled cancer......

Fund Raising Idea #77.......Pick up the phone and give people a call......I know this seems funny, but in this day of email, Facebook, Twitter (which I still don't really understand).....how about just giving someone a call and letting them know what you are up to with Relay for Life.  Maybe you have sent them an email and you think they may have forgotten to donate.....a phone call might be a gentle reminder!  Or, maybe it is someone that does not really "do" email - I KNOW they exist....give them a call and ask for a donation.  You have nothing to loose and a possible donation at the other end of the line!

Fund Raising Idea #76....Day of Idea....this is hilarious - I found it online.  I will publish the directions I found below.  But.....paint this purple and make a sign that says FLUSH AWAY CANCER.....You could have it at your tent site - put it back behind a table and people stand at the table and throw the toilet paper rolls.  The idea for tootsie rolls as the consolation prize was pretty cute :)  Good luck.....this could be really fun...

Carnival Game Idea – Toilet Paper Toss

Carnival Booth Supplies – Toilet Paper Toss:
Toilet Paper Toss Game (see directions below)
3 or more rolls of Toilet Paper either individually wrapped or taped on the outside with duct tape to prevent unraveling.  
Carnival Prizes – top, medium and consolation. Note: we love to use small tootsie rolls as the consolation prize for this booth – they cost pennies and the kind-of go with the toilet theme! :) 
 

How to Play:
Before the carnival, set up the Toilet Paper game and make a few different lines for different age groups of children. (Younger children will be closer to the game to make winning a little easier). Players get three chances to toss the TP roll into the “toilet”. If they get 0 or 1 they get a consolation prize. If they get 2 in, they get the middle prize. If they get all three in, they receive the top prize. 

Make the Toilet Paper Toss Game:
Supplies:
New, donated toilet seat. Ask a local building supply if they have a damaged (new) seat they would donate to you for your game.
Plywood, possibly donated, to construct the box with a back to support the toilet seat
Paint to finish the look (see photo above)
Obviously, you will need a volunteer who is good at constructing things with wood and possibly someone else who can paint your game booth and make it look nice.

Fund Raising Idea #75.....Day of Idea....I have mentioned before about having "A Chance to Win" the night of Relay.  The idea is, of course, you sell tickets and give away a prize.  Set your rules as far as if you do or do not have to be present to win and if you DO have to be present to win, make sure you let folks know what time you will give the prize away.  A lot of people spend the night, because it is a BLAST, so you might even have TWO prizes and one is given away at say, 4am....that way the people that are staying, know they might have a great chance to win......Below I will list some theme ideas for the different baskets you can do - be creative with your containers.....beach sand pail, large flower pot, kitchen mixing bowl.....pick something that goes with your theme.....you would be surprised how little you can spend by thinking theme - looking at the Dollar Store, Christmas Tree Store, Target's Dollar spot etc....Packaging is the key to making your item look appealing!!!  Here are some ideas....

Night at the Movies

(popcorn, candy, movie gift card, a DVD movie)

Spa

Candy, Candy, Candy

Golf

(balls, tees, golf towel)

Candles

(be sure & put in some birthday candles)

Cooking, baking

(gadgets, mixes)

Toys

BBQ

(sauce, tools, grill brush)

Car Wash

(gift certificate to a car wash, wax, towels)

Wrapping Paper

(wrapping paper, tape, ribbon)

Coffee

(fun one - mugs, flavored coffee)

Dog Lover/Cat Lover

(toys, treats)

Ice Cream

(gift certificate to the local place, scoop, sprinkles)

Fourth of July

 

Fund Raising Idea #74.....Day of Idea....A Lollipop Tree....this is a cute idea.  The top picture was made with strong cardboard and holes poked in it, and the second picture is made with the foam cones that you can get at craft stores & would probably be even easier.  Here is what you do:
HOW TO RUN A LOLLIPOP TREE:
The player picks a lollipop. If the lollipop has a colored end, the player wins the corresponding color prize. If the lollipop is not marked, the lollipop is the prize. Fill all four sides with lollipops (110 per side) but only sell off 1 side at a time!

HOW TO SETUP:
Mark the ends of your prize winning lollipops based on our suggestions below or your own method. Mark them on the bottom of the stem so no one can see the marking.

SUGGESTED BREAKDOWN FOR PRIZES:
24 lollipops with green - wins SMALL
12 lollipops with blue - wins MEDIUM
1 lollipop with red - wins CHOICE
The balance are unmarked - wins Lollipop

The above ideas are just suggestions I found online - you could do it in any combination - but I love this idea.  Even if you do not win, you still get a lollipop.  And...this could be so colorful, right in keeping with our Happy Birthday theme!!!  And, you can refill the tree to meet your needs.  Have fun - I am going to look for this one at Relay!

Don't forget.....Your long handled lighters to light the Luminaria Bags!!!!  It is a good idea to start a "pile" of things that you want to bring to Relay.  Or start a bag with some supplies you know you will need....be sure and bring a lighter, because you will want to be a part of the most moving part of the evening....And, while we are on the subject....please remember to buy and to sell Luminaria.....it is just so very important.

Fund Raising Idea #73......Day of Idea....here is an easy one and a favorite with the kids, too.  Buy a BIG jar (Christmas Tree Store maybe) and FILL it with Jelly Beans.  Very colorful!  Have slips of paper made out for a person's name and a blank where they can guess the number of beans in the jar.  The person that comes nearest to the number you have wins.  They can even win the jar of beans.....or whatever you would like them to win.  You can charge whatever you like for people to enter.  Just be sure you let people know how you will announce the winner.

Fund Raising Idea #72.....and Day of Entertainment Idea....there are still some slots open for entertainment the night of Relay.  This was done  years ago and it was so much fun.  How is it a fund raiser?  Well, you can sell each contestant a can of Spam if they want to enter :)  Below is some directions I found online - of course, you can change it up anyway you would like, and also can give out any prize you would like, certificate.....or hey, just knowing that YOU won the Spam Carving Contest...well that alone would be quite an honor!!!

Spam Carving Contest 

Items Needed:
1. A table
2. One can of spam per player
3. One plastic knife per player
4. A can of Spam for the winner (or a Spam cookbook)

Instructions:
1. Set up a table for the carving contest.
2. Give each player a can of Spam and a plastic knife.
3. Give each player 15 minutes to carve something out of Spam.
4. The most creative design wins the contest.
5. Award the winner a can of Spam.

Fund Raising Idea #72....Day of Idea....I am pretty sure that it just will NOT rain at Relay....but thinking of the socks below....did remind me a bit of last year.  Because I also was

so positive it would not rain last year, was I prepared?  No.  And...yes

umbrellas are nice, BUT.....the best thing when you are running all

over the place, participating in fun events and walking the track.....

a rain poncho.  So....even though this is a bit of a last

minute thing, because you would so need to check the forecast....if

it calls for rain, your team might head to the Dollar Store, stock up

on some ponchos and if the rain comes......you may

rack up a ton of money!!!!

Fund Raising Idea #71....Day of or anytime Fund Raiser.....Socks.  Sure, why not???  We Relay; we WALK!!!  These socks are very nice with the purple ribbons, but remember.....Purple People just love PURPLE!!!  I tell you, the year that it rained, someone could have made a lot of money selling dry socks!!!  Just a thought :)

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Fund Raising Idea #70.....Day of and Theme Lap idea....There are a few spots left on the Entertainment Schedule for some Theme Laps.....they are so much fun to do and you could also do a little fund raising at the same time.  How about a POWER OF PURPLE  lap?  Everyone just puts on everything PURPLE, PURPLE, PURPLE that they have.  And....you could sell PURPLE, PURPLE, PURPLE things at your tent!  Mardi gras beads, purple tatoos, purple hats, bows, pins....you name it!  Then, sponsor the fun lap and you can even find music that has the word PURPLE in it and make a CD for folks to walk to.  Just be sure to set that up in advance with the awesome entertainment folks!

Fund Raising Idea #70....Day of Idea.....wow, people get thirsty at Relay!!!  I have seen all kinds of fun things sold to drink at Relay....lemonade, margaritas (NO alcohol of course)......it is always a bit of a guessing game as to what may or may not work, but I will tell you that people do get thirsty and yes, water is the best thing to drink when you are walking, but a lot of folks are there for a very long time and enjoy a chance to have something else to sip on!!!! 

Happy Mother's Day.....

To all of you who Relay to make a difference.....

You are truly special...

Fund Raising Idea #69......Day of Idea.....besides selling things at your tent on the day of Relay, you can also have games and charge people a small fee to play.  How about a blow up pool, with floating ducks....they choose a duck out of the "pond", and based on what number they pick, or even a picture drawn on the bottom, they win a tiny prize.....maybe a piece of candy, a rub on tattoo, that is all up to you!!!  Even a cookie you have baked....sky's the limit!  Or.....maybe a ZONK.....They sell ducks at the dollar store and the blow up pools all over the place.  Be creative with your sings.....Help us DUCK Cancer.....Pluck a Duck for a cure......Have fun with it......

This will be my sixth year at Relay.  One thing is certain every year.  You can NOT predict the weather.  One year it was sooo windy, it was tearing the tents apart.  Another year we froze.  Two years ago it was so hot.  I am talking TEXAS HOT!!!  And, last year it was a bit damp, to put it mildly.  But...guess what????  It will still be one of the BEST nights of your life - ever.  Now, you will get a bit of an idea the day before and it is always smart to prepare.  Throw in a sweatshirt for the night, it can get chilly.  And, if it looks like rain, better than an umbrella is one of those ponchos with a hood - easier to walk the track with one of those than an umbrella.  As for the wind if that comes back.....just have a way to secure your tent decorations!!!  However....just remember - no matter what the weather may bring....it can NEVER put a damper on this magical night.  You will treasure being a part of this come rain or come shine!  Can't wait to see you there.....

Fund Raising Idea #68 - Day of Idea......Glo, Glo, Glo......we all love it - can't help ourselves.  When it is dark and you are walking around a track, it is just fun to GLO!!!  Earrings, rings, sticks, you NAME it - it is just so much fun.  A lot of booths will sell glo "stuff" and there is a reason for that - it is popular!  So, don't worry if you hear that a lot of teams plan on doing it, because a lot of teams enjoy wearing it.  And....remember - you can find it in places besides the online novelty stores. I recently saw a bunch at the Christmas Tree Store.  So have fun......get glowing :)

Fund Raising Idea #67.....A Wishing Welll....Make a wishing well....have a creative team member?  Have them grab some cardboard and their imagination.  Put a wishing well at your tent site.  Let people throw in their change and make a wish....maybe a wish for a CURE....or health for a friend undergoing chemo....or a wish for a world with MORE birthdays!  A fairly easy project!  Turn in your coins at the end of the night...no matter how much money you make, your money will make a difference!

Fund Raising Idea #66 - Day of Idea...while we are on the subject of selling candy.....how about Lifesavers!!  Everyone loves them....but...put a spin on it!  Make a sign, or put a label around them that says "you are a LIFESAVER for helping to find a cure for cancer".  Every little bit helps you know....even buying a roll of Lifesavers at Relay for Life can go towards a cure....not everything has to be something BIG :)  People love to wander the tents for hours the night of Relay.....and to shop....and to eat....so think about the little things that add up - it will make YOU a LIFESAVER!!!!

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Fund Raising Idea #65.....Day of Idea....How about selling lollipops? I read online about a Relay team that sells lollipops because they are fun to just lick on while walking around the track.  Obviously, we all know not to run with one.....but most people are strolling around the track.  The sky is the limit on what you sell, the price, etc......Remember...purple is always a popular color that night, but your mouth won't care as long as it is good!

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Quarters for a Cure....Fund Raising Idea #64....Day of Idea....Quarters for a Cure.  Here is an idea for the day of Relay that will cost you nothing but a little time.  Find a Jug, Bottle, Bank...something that you can drop quarters into.  Make a colorful sign....QUARTERS FOR A CURE......as people are walking around and checking things out at the tents, they may just drop their quarters, or other change for that matter, into your jug.  You have nothing to loose!!!!  At the end of Relay....count your money (I am sure it would be helpful if you rolled it) and turn it in!!!  What could be easier????

If you look around online, you can find a ribbon color for the different types of cancer.  If we all keep working really hard, maybe someday, these ribbons and cancer will not exist.  Until that is accomplished....help with cancer awareness.  If you can, your team should focus on a cancer the night of Relay.  Give out information, make some posters, spread awareness of what you can do.  Example....Las Mamacitas promotes skin cancer awareness.  Last year we made posters about wearing sunscreen, gave out a word search for kids that had words related to skin cancer....just tried to make people aware.  Another example.....lung cancer....try and have info available about NOT smoking.  You get the idea....be creative!  We have a wonderful audience the night of Relay.....and every time you can help one person know about things they CAN do to prevent cancer, you have done something amazing.

Our AUCTION IS OPEN!!!  Please pass the word on!!!  If you go on the main auction page, at the bottom left you will see a link to FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND MY SPACE.  You will also see a way
to refer your friends via email.  And remember...thanks to our wonderful UPS Store in Newtown, your friends out of town can buy and have their item SHIPPED TO THEM FOR FREE!!!!  So please, help support your Relay for Life and let everyone know about the auction!!!!

Fund Raising Idea #63.....Day of Idea.....Face Painting at your tent.....you don't have to be a great artist to do face painting.  There is a lot of information available online about what type of paint and brushes you need as well as easy examples of what is fun to paint.  Most anything purple would be great, like a purple Relay Ribbon....or a star....The kids' would love it, and I bet some of the adults might have fun with it, too.  Have a poster with maybe 10 designs on it and let people choose.  It is up to you, what you decided to charge. 

Our online auction opens on May 2....please, please spread the word!!!  There are so many fun things on the auction, but if people do not know about it, well....you get the point!  Visit the auction site and you will learn how you can refer people via email.  You can also just tell your friends, family, neighbors, anyone you can think of about the auction.  It is such an amazing way to raise money for our Relay.  If you have a fund raising event coming up, please let them know about the auction!  And....of course feel free to bid away for yourself if something interests you.....I know I am going to do some bidding! 

Fund Raising Idea #62....."Fun Friday"....in the past I have blogged about a Flip Flop Day, a Hat Day, a Jeans Day, etc....How about just a Fun Friday Day.....like the guy above - isn't he cute?  I bet he gave a $5 donation to someone to wear that outfit for work.  Now, of course if you are not the boss, you may need to talk to the boss about the parameters of this day....but the sky is the limit and it could be fun. You ask for a donation and whoever makes the donation can participate in the Fun Friday Day.   And, this is a fund raiser that you can do at work and do it fast!  Get permission and spread the word  however you communicate at work.....And....if you have a small office you can still do this - every bit of money makes a difference, so give it a try!  And, be sure and bring your camera!!!

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It is time to start thinking about raising money the night of Relay.  It is so much fun to walk around the tents and see what everyone has to offer!  I will start directing some of the Fund Raising posts to raising money "night of Relay".  It is always good to have a plan about what you want to do.  The days fly by, so start thinking about it if you have not already.  Do not worry if others are doing the same thing.  It is a long and fun night with a lot of people.....plenty of "shoppers" to go around!