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Downtown Batavia during Boo Boo Days decades ago 📸 Credit: Batavia Depot Museum via Batavia MainStreet
Batavia MainStreet announced that Boo Boo Days will return this year as part of the city's Windmill City Festival weekend.
Originating in 1956 as a modest sidewalk sale and officially dubbed "Boo Boo Days" until 1978, this long-standing event began when local merchants showcased clearance and overstock items on the sidewalks.
Batavia MainStreet says that this year's celebration will lean into the nostalgia with a nod to the "Mad Men" era of sharp suits, swinging deals, and colorful storefronts. Downtown businesses will feature large-scale 1950s and '60s advertisements in their windows, offering visitors a chance to "window shop" vintage promotions and authentic ads pulled from Batavia's early Boo Boo Days history.
Deals and specials
Downtown bars and restaurants will offer retro cocktail specials and shops will offer special bargains, including:
Clearance e-bikes and accessories at Boj-E-Bikes
Classic hot dog for $2.99 at Bulldogs Red Hots
Fill an entire large shopping bag at Paula's Couture Consignment for only $25
A special Boo Boo Day cookie and discounted Mystery Pastry Box of bakery items from Rosewood Farm & Market
Clearance pricing on select pottery and macramé pieces at Thrown Threads
Puppy Yoga on July 11 at Zen Loft Collective
Visitors can also browse the Batavia Boardwalk Shops and explore additional sidewalk sales, end-of-season merchandise, and more discounts from downtown retailers throughout the weekend.
"Boo Boo Days represents Batavia's entrepreneurial spirit — local retailers coming together to offer unbeatable deals, delightful promotions, and a sense of community," said Kristen Desler, Assistant Director of Batavia MainStreet. "By reviving this promotion, we hope to spark nostalgia in longtime residents while introducing a new generation of shoppers to one of Batavia's most beloved traditions."
View the complete list of participating businesses, featured specials, and event details.
Boo Boo Days takes place July 10–12 alongside the Batavia Park District's Windmill City Festival, featuring live music, food vendors, carnival rides, and family fun at Peg Bond Center.
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