On Friday, Blackstone will hold its eighth annual Downtown Holiday Open House, which follows the community’s traditional Grand Illumination in Seay Park.

The theme of the evening will be “A Country Christmas.”

On that evening the wonderful and unique Bevell’s Hardware Holiday Train Display will be running and both of the town’s museums, Schwartz Tavern and the Robert Thomas Carriage Museum, will be welcoming visitors.

All events are open to the public and free of charge.

Holiday Open House is coordinated by a group of volunteers from Downtown Blackstone Inc.

This annual event brings to life the Christmases of the past when downtowns were the hub of the community and people ambled along the streets.

Participants are invited to stroll along the streets and enjoy the entertainment, window shop, tour the museums, and browse the stores.

There will be a free hayride at Bevell’s Hardware store. Also two horse drawn carriage rides will be available, but you will need a ticket to ride.

Pick up free ride tickets from one of a growing list of participating merchants. That list includes Bevell’s Hardware, Watkins Jewelers, Green Automotive, Rick’s Auto Repair, Moncure Insurance Agency, McDonalds of Blackstone, Spencer’s Drug Store, Blackstone Realty/Paradise Consignment, Blackstone Herb Cottage, Ollies Computers and Robson Financial Legacies, LLC.

During the Open House, shopkeepers will invite visitors inside to enjoy holiday music, refreshments, drawings for 12 days of giveaways and special offers.

Many of the restaurants will have specials and/or discounts on meals. The museums will have docents on hand to talk about the town’s history and answer visitors’ questions.

Immediately following the Grand Illumination everyone is invited to stroll downtown to experience a magical and festive evening, including a Christmas skit in the Town Square presented by the Southside Area Community Theatre.

There will be caroling by various groups throughout the evening with the voices of the Blackstone Community Chorus directly following the skit.

Special Holiday Open House maps highlighting the many activities throughout the downtown area as well as containing specials offered by various retail establishments and restaurants will be available before and during the night of the Open House.