ATHENS-Have you heard Santa is coming to downtown Athens?
He’ll arrive this weekend via fire truck for the annual Christmas Open House.
Not sure if Santa was the topic of discussion for 22-month-old SawyerBlake and her four-legged buddy seen in this photo from last year, but the two may have been comparing their wish lists.
Holiday shoppers should begin checking their gift list and getting ready for the annual Athens Christmas Open House organized by the Greater Limestone County Chamber of Commerce and Spirit of Athens. Events will be held all day on Saturday, November 22, and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, November 23. Participating businesses will offer in-store specials, refreshments, and door prizes during the weekend. At participating businesses, you can also sign-up for the Christmas Open House Grand Prize drawing, a 20 inch, 5 mm Pearl Necklace with 14K yellow gold clasp. The drawing will be held on Sunday at 4:00 pm and the winner does not have to be present to win.
Participating businesses include CEI Books, Gray & Holt, Limestone Drug, Hobbs Jewelers, LuVici’s, Pablo’s On Market, The Clubhouse Indoor Playground, The Willow Cottage, Trinity’s of Athens, Toodlebugs, Bennett’s Clothing, Hendricks-Patton-Rancl, Garnet’s, U.G. White General Mercantile, The Grasshopper, Cotton & Kudzu, SheaLeighs, Pimentos, Snapdragon Kids, Epiphany Boutique, and Crawford’s gifts. Community sponsors include ASU Center for Lifelong Learning, Athens-Limestone Hospital, The Source Magazine, and Elles Photography.
Christmas Festivities will be held in Downtown Athens during the two day event. Activities include carolers and entertainment, cookies from Mother Christmas, and costumed characters around the Square. Santa will arrive by fire truck at the Center for Lifelong Learning, 121 South Marion Street, at 1:00 p.m. and will be available for photos with Elles Photography until 4:00 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
Don’t forget to visit with our participating merchants not located in downtown Athens and be on the look-out for the Christmas “Elf on the Store Shelf”. If you find an Elf, bring him by the Chamber November 24-25 for a special surprise! This family friendly annual event promises to be a weekend filled with unique shopping, yuletide fellowship, and holiday fun for all to enjoy! For more information, contact the Chamber at 256-232-2600.
Thanksgiving Lunch
The annual Helping Limestone County Thanksgiving Day Lunch for the community will be on Thanksgiving Day from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the VFW on Alabama 127.
The lunch is free and is for anyone in the community who needs a meal, whether you work on Thanksgiving, have limited funds, or do not have family in the area to share Thanksgiving with you.
If you would like to volunteer to work or to donate food, call Roxanne Haggermaker at 256-206-6702.
Elkmont Methodist Church is assisting with the event this year.
