By Emily Ford
eford@salisburypost.com
KANNAPOLIS ó Shops and restaurants in downtown Kannapolis will host a Christmas Open House this weekend.
Merchants in the Village will stay open until 8 p.m. Saturday for an evening of dining, shopping and charity to ring in the holiday season.
Special events include:
– Blessing of the Animals from 4-5 p.m. at Transit Damage Freight furniture store with the Rev. Brian Benton of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church.
– Canned food drive at Falls Jewelers & Virginia’s dress shop to benefit Cooperative Christian Ministries.
– Silent auction to benefit the American Cancer Society and Cabarrus County Relay for Life at Southern Charm gift shop.
Dolly Parton provided an autographed photo for the silent auction.
Southern Charm owner Ronald Reynolds organized the open house after he stayed open late one night last year and customers asked why other Village merchants didn’t do the same, he said.
Atlantic American Properties, which owns most of downtown, has helped support the event through advertising, Reynolds said.
The Village won’t have its traditional Christmas events, including carriage rides and breakfast with Santa, this year because the Visitors Center is closed, said Lynne Scott Safrit, president of Atlantic American Properties.
However, the city and the Kannapolis Intimidators baseball team will host a Christmas parade at 4 p.m. Dec. 5 through the Village.
Other retailers staying open late on Saturday include Lee Clothing, Antique Mall, Perfect Choice, Bon Worth and Leggs Hanes Bali.
The Village Grill and Bruster’s Ice Cream will participate, and Depompa’s Comfortable Foods and Restaurant 46 will stay open until 9 p.m.