In preparation for The Brick District Holiday Open House this evening in downtown Fulton, merchants were working hard on Thursday sprucing up their windows with ribbons, fancy wrapping paper and special items.
But Santa, who will appear at 5 p.m., will be the main attraction, according to Virginia McCoskrie, owner of Smockingbird's gifts.
"He will wander up and down Court Street and pop into stores, taking pictures with the children," she said. "We also have Scrooge visiting with people during the festival."
McCoskrie said she wasn't sure how long the holiday festival has been going on. She opened her store in 2002, and the festival was going on yearly then.
"It's been going on forever," she said.
The street will not be closed to traffic during the holiday open house, which runs 5-8:30 p.m. The Playhouse Bistro will be serving cocoa to people waiting for carriage rides. The rides, furnished by J&R Carriage Rides, are $5 per person (children under age 5 are free) and begin at the Brick District Playhouse.
Music will be provided by the Fulton High School Chamber Singers.
"The Brick District also will give away six $50 gift certificates for
downtown businesses," McCoskrie said.
Those gift certificates are sponsored by The Callaway Bank, Central Bank and Bank Star One, she added. That drawing will be at 8 p.m. in front of Smockingbird's.
Additionally, kettle korn will be offered by Larry Cox.
Beth Snyder and her employees chose tonight as the grand opening of 1canoe2 Paperie at 314 Court St. in the freshly remodeled Farmer's Mutual building. Visitors can browse the entire collection of hand-illustrated products manufactured by 1canoe2, along with goods from other artisans.
This downtown Fulton holiday kick-off event is being sponsored by The Brick District, and it will continue Saturday in individual stores, McCoskrie added.
The next event will be at 1 p.m. Dec. 3 for the 68th annual Christmas Parade, "A Candy Cane Christmas," organized by the Fulton Jaycees. The grand marshall will be Carl Buckner. For more information about the parade, email [email protected].