NW Light Up Downtown Event is Friday, Nov. 16

The 12th Annual Light Up Downtown Christmas Celebration in North Wilkesboro is a week from tomorrow. Santa will be there from 5:30pm - 9:00 pm in the lobby of Wilkes Towers to listen to all your Christmas wishes. Free pictures will be available to take with Santa. Hayrides will also be available to ride around the downtown and enjoy the Christmas lights and decorations. Organizers say there will also be lots of food, craft, and merchandise vendors lined down Main and Tenth Streets. Don’t forget to get a jump on your holiday shopping. Downtown Retailers will be open late to kickoff the Christmas shopping. Liberty Theater will also be open.

As always, there will be three stages throughout the downtown with entertainment. The first stage will be on 9th Street, the second stage will be on 10th Street at the Brushy Mtn. Ruritan Park, and the third stage will be at Melody Square on 6th Street.
There are a number of other events happening at the same time. The Yadkin Valley chapter of the National Railway Historical Society will have an open house at the Black Station model railroad layout in conjunction with the holiday lighting ceremony. The hours are 5:30-9:30 p.m. Black Cat Station is the former Wilkes Art Gallery, at 800 Elizabeth Street, North Wilkesboro.
The Wilkes Art Gallery will host an Opening Reception for two new exhibits, and will partnering with Wilkes Smart Start to host ReindeerLand in the Gallery education center. Children can enter the Gallery through the lighted exterior stairwell to participate in holiday arts and crafts.