Staff Writer

The turkey isn’t even on the table and it’s already looking like Christmas.

On Sunday, downtown Troy will be ready for the holidays as merchants participate in the annual Open House.

Merchants around the square will open their doors to early shoppers between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.

The Square will twinkle like jewels from the Christmas lights and bring out the holiday spirit in anyone who’s in the vicinity of the red bows and green garlands decorating store-fronts.

Georgia Ziglar, president of the Pike County Chamber of Commerce Downtown Revitalization Committee, said the event is one enjoyed by the young and not-so-young.

Even Santa Claus doesn’t miss it.

The jolly ol’ elf will be on the square from 3:30 p.m. until 5 p.m. to get those wish lists from the good girls and boys. He will also be available for photographs, which will be $1 each, and giving out the red and white of candy canes that show Christmas is truly upon us.

Santa will be in the middle of the Square unless bad weather forces him inside the WTBF radio station.

"We’re inviting everyone to come and enjoy Open House and have their picture made with Santa," said Holly Stoltze, membership director for the Pike County Chamber of Commerce.

Merchants enjoy the event so much some of them will have Open House a day earlier by opening their doors to customers on Saturday, Ziglar said.

Ziglar said the downtown merchants have been decorating for the holidays and having open house for "several years" because it’s a good time to relax and shop for everyone on that Christmas list.

She said "every store does it’s own thing," such as serving refreshments and having pre-Christmas sales.

"You usually get some really good buys," Ziglar said.

She and Stoltze encourage everyone to head to the square Sunday afternoon so they can get a jump start on that holiday shopping.

Brundidge will host its citywide open house Thursday from 4 until 8 p.m.

Several of the stores in the downtown area will

feature pre-holiday specials and discounts on cash purchases. Door prizes and light refreshments will entice shoppers into the stores where they will find a wide variety of items for Christmas and all through the year.

The town’s traditional string Christmas lights will give the town a holiday glow as shoppers go from store to store, creating a scene from the way it used to be.

The City of Brundidge invites everyone to view the town’s newest addition, a multi-purpose senior citizen facility on Main Street and to also visit beautiful city hall which is located in the historic Bass House.

The Tupper Lightfoot Memorial Library will be open and visitors learn more about the many services offered through the public library.

The Johnston Mill will also be open and everyone is invited to stop by and enjoy fried peanuts and help make Christmas ornaments for the Brundidge Historical Society’s old-fashioned Christmas tree.

All-in-all, it will be a fun-filled night in Brundidge as the town ushers in the holiday season.