Christmas Jingles Into Greenwood With Open House

November 15, 2009

By JUSTIN  SCHOENBERGE
Index-Journal Staff Writer

Greenwood, SC - A mild, sunny day saw hundreds fill the streets of Uptown Greenwood for the annual Holiday Open House.

The general consensus? What a beautiful day for Christmas.

“We came just for this,” Katie Bartee said, smiling, as she and her husband watched the waterfall between the Federal Building and Greenwood Community Theater. “There is a lot of pretty stuff for sale and a lot of artists. “It’s really nice.”   It wasn’t the first time for the Holiday Open House — each year, The Floral Case flower shop owner Debra Case said, it brings a big boost in shoppers to her store at 202 Main St.

Matthew Dalton, 2, scores some pre-Christmas points with Santa Claus on Saturday at Greenwood’s annual Uptown Holiday Open House while his mother, Connie Dalton, of Greenwood, observes. (Staff photo by Justin Schoenberger)

Saturday — despite a rough economic year for many — was no different.

“It’s a good start to the holiday season,” Case said around noon. “I expect we’ll have a lot more (people come into the store) after lunch.”

Arts Center Programs coordinator Ivy Vartanian called it one of many well-organized Uptown events — there were activities for everyone, she said, including Christmas decoration-making for children in front of the Federal Building at 120 Main St.

“I’d say hands-down there are absolutely more people here than a usual Saturday,” she said.

Including Carol Smith and Hope Mason of Greenwood — a mother and daughter getting a head start on their Christmas browsing.

“It’s just a girls’ day out,” Smith said as the two sat on a bench near a very crowded Uptown Bath and Kitchen at 308 Main St. “They’ve got something going on all day — we might even come back later.

“It’s set up very well.”

Angie Jones, Uptown Greenwood Development Corp. manager, said the entire event went very well, adding all the perks — such as the free horse-drawn carriage rides in the evening — were a way for the city to “give back” to residents.

“It’s great to see the community come out for this,” Jones said. “There has been a lot of foot traffic in and out of stores ... it’s a nice family time.

“It’s our way to help out in tough economic times.”

For more information, contact uptown@cityofgreenwoodsc.com.

Uptown Greenwood Development Corporation
P.O.Box 202
Greenwood, SC 29648
(864) 942-8448