Clearfield cookie walk aims to showcase downtown businesses
Downtown Clearfield will hold a cookie walk from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28. Tickets are available now at the Shaw Public Library. — Courtesy photo
By Andy Stine
astine@altoonamirror.com
Wine walks have become popular throughout the past decade, so with that idea in mind, Clearfield Main Street Manager Sue Diehl came up with a similar idea that all ages can enjoy.
On the Saturday after Thanksgiving — Nov. 28 — from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the borough will hold its third annual Cookie Walk around the downtown area.
The cookie walk is the same day as Shop Small Saturday, or Small Business Saturday. The cookie walk drives hundreds of people into the Clearfield area, according to Diehl.
“We sell 250 cookie tins, and it’s not just 250 people because it’s a family event,” Diehl said. “A mom might buy a cookie tin, and she might bring her two kids with her.”
The cookie walk is the same idea as a wine walk, except kids are involved too, and people are also shopping and strolling and collecting cookies from the different businesses and retailers of downtown Clearfield.
Diehl, who is in her fourth year as the Clearfield Main Street manager, said the idea of a cookie walk came from a local resident of the town.
“They said, “‘You know what would be really cool? If you did a cookie walk.’ I really liked the idea because it is so family-focused,” Diehl said. “There are a lot of wine walks, which are obviously not for kids.”
Diehl also noted that the event is a great kickoff to Clearfield’s Christmas season. The cookie walk is a leadup to the following weekend, when the town hosts its annual Christmas parade and wine walk, plus a free movie showing.
Diehl was caught by surprise at the success of the downtown cookie walk in its first year in 2024.
“The businesses love it. The first year I think we did about 150 tins and we sold out within three hours. The tickets went so fast,” she said.
Last year, the borough jumped the number of tins to 250 to accommodate the interest from local residents.
“It’s a great way to get people into their stores, but they have to provide the cookies,” Diehl said of the businesses. “I thought it would be a hard sell, but they were like, ‘No, absolutely. We’ll bake the cookies.’ It works well. It’s designed to get people into businesses.”
Cookie Walk tickets are $25 and are now available at the Shaw Public Library or call Sue at 814-765-6000.
For more information, visit discoverclearfield.com.