The Piedmont Business Council will sponsor a "Christmas Open House" on Saturday, December 5th from noon to 5 p.m. in the downtown area of Piedmont. This year's activities will be held on one day only in lieu of the five nights that has been done in the past according to Keith Word, co-chairman of the Christmas Week Celebration and Christmas Parade.

This year's events will be in partnership with the Piedmont Ministerial Association. The program will start at noon in the downtown area with special music, interpretive dance, spiritual messages, county and bluegrass music, and a variety of arts and crafts vendors and food vendors for the entire afternoon.

The Piedmont Senior Citizens will be selling chili the entire afternoon. Anyone interested in setting up as an arts and crafts vendor are asked to contact Kelli Winkles at Ole Mill Realty at 256-447-8611 or cell at 256-310-5656 or Jennifer Trainer at the Solid Rock Café at 256-447-1960. Anyone interested in setting up as a food vendor are asked to contact Carolyn Freeman at Carolyn's & Tammy's at 256-239-6580 or Nathan Pope at Formby Furniture at 256-447-8826 or cell at 256-473-8697. Anyone interested in being included in the entertainment should contact Dan Freeman at 256-239-6580 or Keith Word at the Piedmont Housing Authority at 256-447-6734 or cell at 256-239-8342.

"We are looking for as many people or groups of churches, businesses, or volunteer groups to participate in this year's activities as we can" Word said.

The day will conclude with the annual Christmas Parade. It will start at the old National Guard Armory at 4 p.m. and travel down Main Street, turning onto Ladiga Street at Noble Bank and then traveling to the Farmers & Merchants Bank where the parade route will turn left and back left onto the side street beside the old railroad tracks to head back to the old National Guard Armory.

Christmas Parade applications can be picked up at the Ole Mill Realty; CRS Printing; Piedmont City Clerk's Administrative Office; Clyde H. Pike Civic Center; Piedmont Housing Authority; Solid Rock Café; or they can be emailed if requested. Anyone interested in entering the annual Christmas Parade should contact Word at the Piedmont Housing Authority at 256-447-6734 or 256-239-8342 or email keithword@bellsouth.net or Ben Singleton with the City of Piedmont at 256-447-3582 or email ben.singleton@piedmontcity.org.

Once the schedule of events are confirmed the list of entertainment will be published in The Piedmont Journal.