Published: November 06, 2009 01:24 pm      

Downtown Christmas features game, food, entertainment in a world theme

Thursday, November 5, 2009 — On Nov. 20, Downtown Albemarle will usher in the holiday season with its 17th annual Christmas event. This year’s event, which will take place from 5:30-8:30 p.m., has a new theme, “Christmas Around the World,” and promises to be alive with fun, food, entertainment and a new “Christmas Around the World” game. Downtown stores will be decorated to represent different countries around the world. Some of the decorations will be handmade by the children at Central Elementary School, Kendall Valley Elementary School and Park Ridge Christian School.

“The downtown Christmas celebration is one of Albemarle’s most successful events,” says Ron Crawley, this year’s planning committee chairman.

“We are starting a new tradition this year with the Opening Ceremony and the lighting of the Christmas tree at 6 o’clock to be held in front of the new City Hall. Shoppers can get a jump start on Christmas shopping in businesses that will be open until 8:30 p.m. for this special evening. It’s a time when people come downtown to shop, eat and be entertained. Children will enjoy all of the activities planned especially for them – visits with Santa, making holiday ornaments, the face painting and a holiday hayride.”

Entertainment will begin at 5:35 p.m. with the North Stanly band marching in from First Street and performing at the Square, followed by the Singing Americans at the City Hall.

Visit the Groves building (across from the City Hall) to hear the Central United Methodist Church Handbell Choir, Matt Steed playing a Native American flute and see the Canton Baptist Church Puppet Team.

Performing at Courthouse Square will be the Pfeiffer University Instrumental Ensembles, the combined Stanly County Chorale and Pfeiffer Concert Choir and the Bethel Church of God Praise Team.

A new venue this year is the Top Dollar Stage on West Main Street where Tapestry, Melissa Kathleen’s School of Dance and the Stanly Community College Choral Ensemble will perform.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will be on the lower level of the library where children may visit with them from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Elves from the Stanly County Partnership for Children will also be on hand at the library from 5:30-8:30 to help children make a holiday ornament.

Children of all ages will want to get in the holiday spirit by letting Pfeiffer University art students create a special holiday design at the Face Painting site (in the old Cabarrus Bank Building at the corner of First and Main — across from Top Dollar.)

No evening out is complete without dining in one of downtown Albemarle’s variety of eateries such as First Street Diner, Jumpin’ Jack’s Coffee & Creamery or The Boardroom Bar & Bistro. Also check out the wide assortment of on-the-go food available from nonprofit street vendors on North Second Street.

From 6:30-8:30 p.m. there will be free Holiday Hayrides through the center city. Boarding will be at the square. The sights and sounds of “Christmas Around the World” will be everywhere.

A brochure that lists the entertainment schedule, activities and food options will be available in all participating “Christmas Around the World” businesses.

Members of the Pfeiffer University Women’s LaCrosse team will be assisting at all of the activity sites and in various other ways during the evening.

There will also be a Pfeiffer Alumni Social at Home Savings Bank from 5:30-8:30 p.m. All Pfeiffer Alumni and Friends of Pfeiffer University are invited to drop by during the evening.

An addition to this year’s event will be the “Christmas Around the World” game planned by the downtown businesses with Shireen Koohestani organizing the overall theme.

With several cities in North Carolina having Christmas events which bring people back year after year, Koohestani’s vision is to give Albemarle downtown its own unique Christmas attraction.

“Christmas Around the World” will have businesses decorating according to the traditions of a country they have selected to represent. Each business will have a flag of their country along with other decorations to give it an authentic feel.

Children from Park Ridge Christian School, Central Elementary and Kendall Valley will make ornaments for the businesses Christmas trees. The children will put the name of the country which the businesses represent on the ornaments along with their own names and the school they attend.

“Both the downtown businesses and the children are looking forward to having their ornaments displayed on the Christmas trees,” Koohestani said.

“Along with the excitement of bringing all participating businesses under one decorating theme, we have planned the fun ‘Christmas Around the World’ game, intended to bring many Stanly County residents to the downtown event.”

Thirty downtown businesses are participating and will each give away a $25 gift certificate to winners and one person will win a $100 gift certificate to the participating business of their choice paid for by the ADBA.

“Just pick up a game card at one of the participating downtown businesses any time between Nov. 16 through Dec. 7. The participating businesses will be identified by a sign in their window that says, ‘Get Game Card Here.’ To play the game, visit all businesses listed on the game card and write in the country they represent on the card. Get each store’s official stamp and return the completed game card to Health Nutz Natural Food Store at 130 S. First St. by 8:25 p.m. Nov. 20. There will be an Early Bird drawing for a winner of the $100 gift certificate which will take place on Nov. 20, at 8:30 p.m. on the night of the event,” she said.

“The winner will be announced at the Top Dollar Stage on Main Street. All game cards turned in on Nov. 20 will also be entered in another drawing to be held at noon on Dec. 8 at Health Nutz. At that time cards will be drawn to determine the winners of the 30 gift certificates worth $25 each. There will be one winner per participating business and one game card per person 17 years old or older can play.

“To be eligible, the card must have an official stamp from each participating business and be turned in to Health Nutz Natural Food Store at 130 S. First St. by 5 p.m. no later than Dec. 7 for the Dec. 8 drawing. You do not have to be present to win either drawing.

“We all have such wonderful memories during this season from hearing Christmas music, seeing all the lights and decorations and experiencing the excitement of the hustle and bustle in the stores to wishing everybody a Merry Christmas and soaking in all the Christmas sites and sounds.

“I want those kind of memories for Albemarle in the many years to come. Adults, as well as children, will truly enjoy this new tradition we are starting in downtown Albemarle and hopefully we can all feel like a kid again playing the ‘Christmas Around the World’ game.”

The participating businesses are as followed: Albemarle Music Store, Albemarle Printers, Albemarle Sweet Shop, Albemarle Taekwondo America, The Boardroom Bar & Bistro, The Doll Boutique, Ethel’s Uniform Boutique, Falling Rivers Gallery, First Street Diner, First Street Furniture Gallery, First Street Jewelery, Health Nutz Natural Food Store, Hi-Lites, J.Talbert LTD, Jumpin’ Jacks Coffee & Creamery, The Kat’s Meow, Kid Zone Consignments, Merle Norman/Elite Beauty Salon, The Mini Boutique, PJ’s Doll House & Miniatures, Rushing Jewelers, Satin and Lace, Second Street Gallery, Sparger Investments, Standard Office Equipment, Starnes Jewelers, Tim Harris Music, Timeless Fotographie, Top Dollar Jewelery & Loan, Vac and Dash.

Now in its 17th year, the Downtown Christmas Event is presented by the Albemarle Downtown Development Corporation and the Albemarle Downtown Business Association.

For more information visit www.albemarledowntown.com or contact Vicki Coggins, executive director, ADDC, at vcoggins@ci.albemarle.nc.us or call (704) 984-9415.