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Friday, Nov. 13, marks the beginning of Christmas festivities in Smithville with the annual Holiday Open House sponsored by the Smithville Downtown Heritage District.

And this year, downtown should look a little more festive for the event with the recent addition of holiday lighting on the buildings.

According to Jean Roe, owner of Jean’s Flowers and Gifts and a member of the Downtown Heritage District, the new lights were made possible by a mystery benefactor.

“An anonymous donor made it possible that all those who want to participate can have lights on their buildings this year,” she said. “This is something downtown has been trying to do for 15 or 20 years and this donation made it possible.”

The lights, Roe said, will be officially turned on during the Holiday Open House, just after the mayor’s Christmas tree is lit. So far, Roe said all but three businesses downtown have agreed to participate.

One of them is still discussing whether to participate and the other two have turned down the offer, but Roe declined to comment on which buildings had chosen not to participate.

When the lights go on sometime around 7 p.m. on Nov. 13, Roe said they’ll stay on through the holiday season and the heritage district is still discussing how to use them after the New Year.

“Really, we’d like to keep them on, if possible, all year round,” she said. “At homecoming, we could turn them on for the game or maybe use them for Hot Summer Nights. Hopefully these aren’t just for Christmas. We’d like to light them up for any good occasion.”

In addition to the new lighting, Richard Pendleton, spokesman for the heritage district, said this year’s open house will also feature Girl Scout carolers on Saturday, Nov. 14, and a new system for prizes.

This year, Pendleton said, individual downtown shops will offer door prizes on Saturday instead of pooling them together for one giveaway as the shops have done before.

So far, Pendleton said, 12 businesses will be participating in the giveaways.

The annual Holiday Open House will begin at 7 p.m. Nov. 13 with the lighting of the mayor’s Christmas tree. Participants will be provided with free hot chocolate and holiday music and carriage rides will be also be available.

Santa will also be on hand for the festivities on Friday.

The event lasts through Saturday, when some downtown merchants will be giving out door prizes and refreshments.

Staff writer Michael Westblade can be reached at 389-6636 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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