Every year around Thanksgiving, downtown Bowling Green is lined with the excitement and festivities of the Christmas season.

Main Street Bowling Green is sponsoring the annual historic downtown Holiday Open House. The season started with the parade down Main Street Saturday. Saturday, Nov. 30 and Sunday Dec. 1 will be yet another weekend of magical delight for children of all ages.

Strolling musicians and carolers will walk the streets for people to enjoy. Santa Clause will be in the Cla-Zel theater lobby or enjoy a complimentary horse drawn carriage ride. Santa will be available on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Carriage rides will depart from the Cla-Zel on Saturday between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

All of this is free to any downtown visitor thanks to the budget and volunteers set up for this special annual event.

Not only will there be Santa, carriage rides, musicians and carolers, but a lot of downtown businesses are also taking part in this event.

“The businesses will be featuring holiday merchandise that’s new, hot and exciting,” Vicki Lee, administrative assistant of Main Street Bowling Green, said.

To get businesses involved, Main Street send out a flyer telling businesses when the Open House was taking place.

“Most of the older businesses are involved every year, so they were already familiar with what is going on,” Lee said.

To promote to the city, flyers and notices were sent out at the parade this past weekend. There is always a good turn out at the Open House, Lee said.

“It starts with the parade, and with Santa and the carriage rides we expect, and do get, a good turn out,” she said.

Not only does Santa have his fill of visitors, but area businesses such as For Keeps and Calico, Sage ‘ Thyme bring get an increase in customers.

“We have been involved in the Open House since we opened six Christmases ago,” Amy Kolan of For Keeps said. “We do see an increase in business on this weekend.”

Kolan said that all of downtown is involved in one way or another. They help promote downtown, bringing in good business and support for the city.

For Keeps is offering discounts and sales on items during the Open House. They also will have refreshments available to those that stroll into their store.

The Bowling Green Holiday Open House is meant for businesses to have their doors open to visitors for the holiday season, Lee said.

Other businesses will be open during this time, some with their own discounts and promotional holiday items.

Whether a visit to Santa Clause or a carriage ride is all someone wants, downtown Bowling Green will be lit up with the atmosphere of the holidays for all to enjoy this weekend.