Christmas is just around the corner, and local Troy businesses are ringing in the season with the annual Open House events this weekend.

Several of local downtown stores will be participating in the annual Christmas Open House, which lasts from now until Sunday.

“This is an event that everyone looks forward to because you can go to your local shops and take advantage of the sales going on,” said Leigh Anne Windham, membership director with the Pike County Chamber of Commerce.

Also, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, stores will offer refreshments to shoppers.

Windham said while this is a great time to purchase Christmas gifts, shopping is only part of what goes on at open house.

“Stores will have a good bit of refreshments, so you’re not only going out and shopping, but your getting to visit with people,” Windham said.

All participating stores will have some type of sale going on.

At Douglas Bros. Jewlery, all fine jewelry will be 25 percent off, watches and gift items will be 20 percent off and silver will be half price.

“We typically have a large number of shoppers,” said Scherr Qualls, owner. “Now is a good time to come look and shop.”

For some store owners, this will be the first time participating in open house.

Uptown Gallery, which opened in July, will have a 20-percent off sale on everything in the store.

And Manager Ginger Davis Fridlin said there will be plenty to choose from in her shop, ranging from hand-crafted dollhouse miniatures, to vintage records, art, antiques and even comic books.

And while Uptown Gallery will be participating for the first time, other stores have been around since the very beginning.

“When it first started out, nobody had any other stores here,” said Faye Stevens, manager of First Impressions., located on the Square. “We’re celebrating our 20th year here.”

Stevens said anything from newborn baby clothes to sports apparel to crystal can be purchased at her store in downtown Troy.

Windham said in hard economic times, it’s more important than ever residents support local stores.

“You’re not just supporting local business, but you’re supporting your local sales taxes and everything they contribute to, like schools,” Windham said.

Other stores participating in the open house are Family Ties, Olivers, Terra Cotta, On the Square Antiques, Seaphim, Johnson Center for the Arts, Pioneer Museum, Rena’s Boutique, Home Gallery and Shyron’s.