Downtown Salisbury will be filled with a joyful sound throughout the holiday season.
Downtown Salisbury Inc. offers up a menu of events and activities from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve.
It begins the evening after Thanksgiving with Holiday Night Out, 5-9 p.m. Nov. 25. Santa and Mrs. Claus, as well as the Grinch, will make the first of their several downtown appearances during this free event. Stores will be open late for Christmas shopping, and will offer special goodies. Take a free trolley ride to a favorite downtown destination or enjoy the sights from a horse-drawn carriage.
Musicians around downtown will include the a capella quartet Victorian Voices and accordionist Bob Wilusz.
On Nov. 26, from 10 a.m. to noon, Santa and the Grinch will be at the Bell Tower at the corner of West Innes and South Jackson streets and will take photos with visitors that will be posted on the Downtown Salisbury website at www.DowntownSalisburyNC.com . The event is free, and incudes cookies and hot chocolate and the chance to create a homemade Christmas decoration or two.
Beginning at 7 p.m. Dec. 2, and continuing through the weekend, the Arc Festival of Trees will be displayed in the F&M Trolley Barn, 125 E. Liberty Street. For more information, visit The Arc of Rowan’s website, www. thearcofrowan.org
Weather permitting, Santa and the Grinch will be whirling around downtown on antique fire trucks from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Dec. 10, and the public is invited to ride with them. Boarding for Santa and the Grinch fire trucks takes place in front of Okey Dokey & Co., 126 E. Innes Street. Cookies and warm drinks will be available for those waiting, along with fun activities for the kids.
For a little distraction-free time to shop for the kids, the Rowan County Youth Services Bureau will provide babysitting services available at Camp Christmas Child Care from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 17. Although there is no charge, the Youth Services Bureau will accept donations in exchange for keeping youngsters entertained and engaged while parents shop.
The camp offers games, arts and crafts and a moonbounce, as well as lunch and snacks, for children ages 5-12. Space is available on a first-come, first-served basis; reservations are encouraged. Call Laura Porter at the Youth Services Bureau, 704-633-5636 extension 104 or email LauraPorter.x2@ gmail.com to reserve space.
And ring in the new year during the annual New Year’s Eve at the Bell Tower Park beginning at 11:30 p.m., Dec. 31. The free event offers live music, refreshments and drawings to win Downtown Dollars (which can be spent at most downtown stores and restaurants) as well as a chance to be the first to ring the Bell Tower bells at the stroke of midnight.