Christmas Open House kicks off holiday season

By Staff
Clif Knight, Hartselle Enquirer
Want to get in the Christmas spirit three weeks before Thanksgiving? If your answer is yes, you’ll want to mark your calendar for Hartselle’s annual “Christmas Open House” and “Taste of Hartselle” Nov. 5. These two events will officially kick off Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce’s “Hartselle for the Holidays” trade promotion.
Open house will be observed by eight chamber-affiliated antique and specialty gift shops located in the central business district. They are Genesis Antiques and Gifts, Nettie’s Place/The Urban Cottage, Slate Gallery and Framing, The Dowry Chest, The Fudge Shoppe, The Gathering Place, The Robin’s Nest and Ragtime Antiques. Most will be open from 1 to 6 p.m. Also participating will be chamber members located on Highway 31, Showcase Carpet and Paint and Florene’s Gifts and Interiors and Maison Morgan. Other stores are expected to be open.
The “Taste of Hartselle” will offer shoppers free holiday goodies from 12 sponsors, China Wok, Hartselle Medical Center, Kroger Deli, Las Vias Mexican Grill, The Fish and Chip Place, The Wedding Chapel Caf/, Dari-Delite, Hometown Market, Kyuka, Pepsi, The Oden House and Willie Burgers. The event will be staged at The Depot with serving hours from -5 p.m.
Refreshments will be served and shoppers will be invited to register for door prizes at most of the participating stores. In addition, entertainment will be provided by four groups of bell ringers from Hartselle First United Methodist Church. Their program will start at 2 p.m. in front of The Depot. Santa also will be present. He welcomes children and parents to visit him at the Gazebo.
The project’s corporate sponsors are CRI Copeland Corporation and Gilchrist Pharmacy. Business sponsors are Enquirer Printing Co., The Decatur Daily, Regions Bank and Hartselle Medical Center.