It’s beginning to look a lot like . . .

Well, at least it will from 6-9 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 19, when downtown Union is transformed into a Christmas village for its annual Christmas Open House.

“This is an annual, traditional event sponsored by the Downtown Merchants, Chamber of Commerce and the city and county of Union,” said Union County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Torance Inman.

Main Street’s halls will be decked with all the holly and Christmas adornments the heart could desire with store fronts and business employees getting into the holiday cheer.

The atmosphere will be warm — hopefully — and traditional.

“It will be that of a traditional Christmas setting,” Inman said.

Carriage rides on Main Street and Santa visiting at Provident Community Bank along with loads of other events and activities will make the holidays come alive for any and all who attend.

“It will be an air of Christmas and an early kickoff to the Christmas shopping season,” Inman said.

There will be something for everybody and all ages — from one to 92 — this year with a few new activities as well.

There will be much mistletoeing and hearts will be glowing with photos by Timeless Treasures, children’s train rides, artist demonstrations at the Union County Arts Council and recruitment at Smith Drugs by Union County Foster Care. Boogie Deb Hutchinson of Greenville also will perform at Beatrice’s.

Music will abound with Sounds of Praise at Graham Cash, Melody Hope Farr at Keepsake Jewelers, USC-Union Music Club performances, Union County High School Marching Band performances, Amanda Dressendorfer at Wachovia, The Salvation Army Band performances, Raven Robinson at State Farm, St. Luke’s Youth Choir at Wachovia, Corinth Baptist Youth Choir at Provident and Terry Mitchell at Smith’s Drug.

Adding to the evening’s splendor with their holiday moves will be The Dance Academy and Ultimate Rhythm at the Union County Courthouse and Miss Elaine’s and Dream on Dance Studio at Gadberry all dancing.

To top it all off, there will be cotton candy, candy apples, funnel cakes, chicken strips by the Thundering Heard RFL Team, BBQ by Big Daddy’s, boiled peanuts by Buffalo Pnut Company and bake sales that all will be available to wet anyone’s appetite. Refreshments also will be available at many of the merchants that will be staying open late.

And that’s just a beginning of all the events, activities and specials happening in downtown Union during the Christmas Open House.

“This year we’ll have more activities in that there will be four children’s dance groups as well as a percussion band, Boogie Deb and the USC-Union Music Club band,” Inman said, adding there also are many other new events taking place this year.

“Things are scheduled throughout the evening, beginning at six all the way through to nine-o-clock,” Inman said.

So everyone is encouraged to arrive early.

“If you don’t come early you’ll miss something so come early and stay late,” Inman said.

And again, who could forget about the chance to do a little early Christmas shopping.

“I would recommend if you come to see something that’s interesting to you, don’t pass up the opportunity to go down each side of Main Street and see all the merchants that will be open and see what they have,” Inman said.

AT A GLANCE:

WHAT: Union Christmas Open House

WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 19

WHERE: Downtown Union

HOURS: 6-9 p.m.