Downtown Batavia was the place to be recently for fans of music megastar Taylor Swift.
Arlo.Hendrix, a children’s and baby boutique, and Seapeak Style, a woman’s clothing boutique, with support from the Batavia MainStreet group, staged an event on Friday called The Showgirl Lantern Walk, a nod to Swift’s new album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” which was released that day.
The Taylor Swift-themed downtown Batavia event included glowing lanterns placed along the sidewalks that led participants to more than 20 businesses offering special deals on merchandise as well as food and drinks and live music.
Maria Pensinger of Winfield, co-owner of MoJo Handbags, said her shop participated during last year’s Lantern Walk and that she wanted in again this time “simply because it’s a lot of fun.”
“People will enjoy it because we have a lot of Swift-themed things,” she said before the event.
Among the items were “bag charms – they are all Swift-themed and people can make them,” Pensinger said. “These figure in because they’re like friendship bracelets. Her fans trade them between themselves.”
A special scavenger hunt was offered based on lyrics from Swift’s song catalog with clues that were located in shops throughout downtown. Prize baskets filled with merchandise donated from merchants were awarded later to people who had completed their scavenger hunt cards.
Arlo.Hendrix owner Brittany Sabatino said she and Seapeak owner Grace Schultz are hard core Swifties themselves who believe in the power of the singer’s music and message.
“Our idea was once it was announced Taylor Swift would be releasing her album on Friday, we thought, well, if we’re already doing a Lantern Walk that day we might as well make it a Swiftie theme,” Sabatino said. “I have passed my enthusiasm for her down to my son. I thinks she’s just such a positive influence and being in my industry and being around kids all the time, I think it’s just so cool to have someone be such a positive influence on giving back and lifting up people.”
Schultz said she has held Swift-themed events before and wanted to join the effort this year “as the Lantern Walk last year was a big deal.”
“I’m a big Swiftie fan as well. I can relate to her music and speaking about my business it’s brought a lot of my customers together and made a community for my business,” Schultz said. “I sell a lot of Taylor Swift-inspired merchandise and last year, I hosted a birthday party at the store that was Taylor Swift-themed.”
Lucy Martinez of Batavia, who runs 63rd Street Apothecary in downtown Batavia, likewise took part in the Lantern Walk a year ago and said while she’s not a big Swift fan, she understands the singer’s appeal.
“There are definite messages she has – there’s the positivity and girl power,” Martinez said about Swift. “I think that’s the main thing.”
Annmarie Peterson of Batavia said the Lantern Walk on Friday “was a great event where you can come out and shop and it’s a good way to kickoff the fall and the next holiday season.”
“I think this is just fun,” she said. “Everything has a fandom but this is just larger than some others. I like Taylor Swift and appreciate everything she does and the empire she’s built.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.