The downtown Brundidge merchants will extend their business hours Thursday as part of the citywide Open House.

Dixie Shehane, president of the Brundidge Business Association, said the annual citywide holiday event is not sponsored by the BBA but the business organization supports all efforts to bring people to downtown Brundidge.

“We are very proud of our hometown and want people to come and be a part of the events and activities that promote our downtown area,” Shehane said.

The citywide Open House will be from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. Thursday and continue during regular business hours on Friday and Saturday.

Participating merchants will offer discounts on Thursday and some of the merchants will extend their specials through the weekend.

Retail businesses that will participate in the downtown Open House include, Main Street Jewelers, Pickin’ ’n Grinnin,’ Jackson Hardware and Gifts, Brundidge Florist, The Thrift Store and Gift and Thrift.

Jamie Bullock, owner of Brundidge Florist, said the Open House originated about 40 years ago with Winnie Merle Helton, who owned the florist at that time.

Bullock has been hosting Open House for 33 years. Jackson Hardware was the second downtown business to join the florist in the holiday shopping event. Bullock said it’s exciting that other businesses are now participating.

“Open House is a customer appreciation event,” Bullock said. “It’s also an opportunity to show shoppers what we have to offer and to encourage people to shop downtown Brundidge.”

The downtown eateries — Eeztec Internet Café, The Pizza Palace, Griffin’s Café and Collier’s on Main — will be open during Open House with everything from burgers to steaks and from pizza pies to lemon pies.

The We Piddle Around Theater will be open from 5 until 7 p.m. Thursday and reservations may be made for the upcoming Chili Country Christmas supper and storytelling event on Dec. 11. Information will also be available about the 2016 Pike Piddlers Storytelling Festival.

The Tupper Lightfoot Memorial Library will host kids’ movie night with “Charlie Brown’s Thanksgiving” at 5:30 p.m. Children and parents are invited. There is no admission charge to the movie. The library is located on South Main Street.