Downtown Jefferson City is all set for its traditional Downtown Holiday Open House, held every year at the beginning of the holiday season.
The open house is Saturday, Nov. 8, and will feature a mix of old and new promotions.
Several downtown businesses will continue offering a series of holiday-themed classes, an addition made to the event last year.
"We want people to come down and shop and enjoy, but also to learn a little bit while they're here," said Stephanie Bell, president of the Downtown Jefferson City Association.
This year's classes, all self-guided and free to the public except where noted, will include the following:
• "Learn to Play the Newest Family Game," 10 a.m., 11 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. at Downtown Book and Toy, 125 E. High St.
• "Create Your Own Cookie Ornaments," presented by Frosted Art Studio, 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Gumbo Bottoms, 221 Madison St.
• "Travel Tips for Safety & Packing, How to Get through the Airport Faster," 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Midwest Travel Consultants, 207 E. High St.
• "Painting 101 - Don't Buy New - Just Redo!," 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Southbank Gift Company, 110 E. High St.
• "The Necessary Accessories," 11 a.m. at The Xchange Boutique, 111 E. High St.
• "Bright Tie-Dye Ideas for Gift Giving," 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m. at YoYums, 122 E. High St.
• "Holiday Canvas Painting with Gypsy Studios," noon at Capitol City Cork, 124 E. High St. (not free)
• "How to Make Savory Crackers," noon at Carrie's Hallmark Shop, 117 E. High St.
• "Holiday-Themed Secret Screening," 1 p.m. at Capitol City Cinema, 126 E. High St.
• "Card Painting," 1 p.m. at The Twisted Canvas, 219 E. High St.
• "The Perfect Tablescape - A Fresh Floral Design Class," 2 p.m. at River City Florist & Gifts, 212 Madison St.
Most classes range from 15-25 minutes and do not require advanced registration.
The open house also will offer opportunities to save on holiday shopping.
Officials have scrapped a savings program that debuted last year offering shoppers discounts for presenting receipts from other participating downtown retailers, as it was unpopular with business owners. However, the Downtown Jefferson City Association will introduce the modified "Unwrap Savings" program, which will award $25 gift cards for use at all participating downtown shops to the first 50 shoppers who purchase $250 worth of merchandise during the open house.
And for those wondering about the fate of Jefferson the Elf, good news awaits.
"The elf is coming back, and he's operating a little differently this year," Bell said.
Like last year, the 4-foot elf will be hidden daily at various downtown locations throughout November. But this year, when people find him and post photographs to Instagram of themselves with Jefferson along with the hashtags #Jefferson, #Downtown and #JCMO, they will be entered into a weekly drawing for a $20 gift card.
Two more new traditions added to the bill in 2013 will return this year. First, the Nov. 8 open house will kick off the holiday window contest for downtown businesses. This year's theme is "America's Most Beautiful Small Town - Then & Now."
"We're encouraging all businesses to find historic photos of their buildings and display them in their windows so people can take a stroll through history," Bell said, noting businesses may also use photos of former business owners and personalities as well as vintage fashions and the like.
The window decorations will be on display at participating businesses through Nov. 29, when the winners will be selected by judges and a people's choice vote, for which the location is yet to be announced.
Finally, last year's effort to keep stores open later on certain days has been switched from Wednesdays to Thursdays. "Thursday Night Lights" will offer a chance to do holiday shopping downtown more conveniently with certain stores open until 7 p.m. every Thursday from Nov. 13-Dec. 18.
"This year we are encouraging stores to stay open late on Thursdays because with Thursday Night Live people think of Thursdays as downtown nights," Bell said.