AMERICUS — The annual Downtown Christmas Open House is scheduled for 5-8 p.m. Thursday. The popular event is considered to be the official start to the holiday season in Americus.
Downtown merchants with extended hours and decked out in holiday décor, will be offering special holiday gift ideas.
At this event, attendees have the opportunity to shop, meet Santa, ride the horse and carriage, see the big Christmas tree lighting, sample refreshments, hear Christmas carolers, and much more.
Attendees also have the opportunity to win Downtown Dollars by visiting as many downtown businesses necessary to be entered into the drawing. Attendees visit the businesses with a registration card with a space for the merchant to sign/stamp. After receiving enough signatures/stamps, the attendee drops the card in one of the red mailboxes located downtown. What’s new about this activity is, if an attendee makes a purchase in the business, the business can opt to provide a bonus/additional stamp.
This is an exciting event that gets everyone thinking about shopping downtown first for the holidays! It’s also a time for families to bring their kids to visit Santa, for adults to attend the Madrigal Dinner at the Windsor Hotel, and to just visit downtown and enjoy the sights and sounds of the season.
— Beth Alston