Downtown Minden will be abuzz with activity Friday as Wrap It Up Downtown gets underway.
Becky White, Minden Main Street director, says the downtown shops will be open later with specials and sales.
“This is to get people to come downtown, shop locally and promote the businesses,” she said. “It’s a good time to come down with the parade.”
The Minden Evening Lions Club will host its annual Christmas parade at 6 p.m. Friday.
Main Street Commission President Terry Gardner says some of the businesses will offer refreshments, and hot chocolate will be offered during the parade.
He says he expects businesses to stay open until around 7 p.m., including the boutiques, antique shops, City Art Works as well as the two restaurants, Habacus and Roma.
“All the store fronts will be decorated, and this is the first Christmas and first Wrap It Up Downtown that we’ve had in years that people can actually walk to two good restaurants,” he said. “You can start shopping in the afternoon, spend the afternoon downtown with something that attracts everybody, and then you can all at the end of the day have a nice meal at Habacus or Roma.”
White says Saturday, Dec. 12, Santa will visit downtown Minden again at The Vault so children can tell him what they want for Christmas and have their pictures made with him. The Grinch Who Stole Christmas will also be there as well, White says.
The Dec. 12 date is a continuation of Wrap It Up Downtown, Gardner said.
The event will go on all day Friday, and all day Saturday, Dec. 12. Gardner says shoppers can find what the need for Christmas for their loved ones on Friday and then focus on the children that Saturday.
He emphasized that downtown Minden does not just include Main Street, but Easley’s Photography and Fine Arts on Pearl Street and Bobbies Hobbies on Dixie Street.
“We want everybody to come to downtown Minden and enjoy our beautiful Christmas lights,” he said. “We’re not only the friendliest city in the south, but we’re also the friendliest Main Street in the South.”