The annual Uptown Lexington Christmas Open House, held nearly four weeks ago, comes earlier than some people like to even think about buying holiday presents. This weekend those who haven’t completed their shopping get a second chance with a new event - Uptown Lexington ’s Christmas Shopping Party. “We’re looking forward to a lot of people coming to enjoy the local flavor of the holiday,” said Wade Nichols, executive director of Uptown Lexington Inc.
Thirty-five stores, four more than participated in this year’s Christmas Open House and many of which normally close by early-to-mid-afternoon on Saturdays, will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Saturday. Several stores are planning specials, refreshments or entertainment. Scott Gibson, an acoustic singer/songwriter who owns Banners and Such on South Main Street, and possibly other musical groups will perform on the Square.
The Magic Step cloggers, a local children’s dance troupe that appeared during the Open House, will return for an encore. And Uptown Lexington Inc. will hold a sidewalk art contest like the one the organization conducted this past summer during one of the uptown strolls. In this competition, though, the art, drawn with chalk on concrete, will have holiday themes. Shoppers can see those themes in store windows, “but we’ll put something on the sidewalks as well,” Nichols said.
He stressed that the Shopping Party will be different from the Open House. No streets will be closed, and no miniature trains or horse-drawn carriages will provide rides. Most of the activity will be inside uptown businesses. The merchants themselves originated the idea for the new event. “We felt like the Christmas Open House was so early in the Christmas shopping season, maybe this would help,” said Toby Prince, part-owner of All About Education on West Second Avenue.