The annual Irvington Holiday Open House will take place on Fri., Dec. 9th. The event, sponsored by the Irvington Business Association, will be held between 5 and 9 p.m. Enjoy a ride on the trolley car, with stops at the Irvington Public Library at Washington St. and Audubon Rd., Bookmama’s on Johnson Ave., and the Irving Circle on South Audubon Rd.
New to the event this year is a coloring contest. Kids can get a coloring page at the Irvington Public Library. Completed pages should be returned to the library by Dec. 5th for judging. Entries will be displayed at Bittersweet and Artisan Realtors during the event. Letters for Santa can be written at Geneva Hair Studio. Mrs. Claus and a special elf will be at Irving Circle to help kids mail their letters.
For the second year, there will be a gingerbread house competition. The jouse base must be no larger than 8 ½ x 11, and must be dropped at Bookmama’s at 9 Johnson Ave. by Dec. 5th.
Have your picture taken with Santa at George Thomas Florists, located at 5609 E. Washington St. from 5-8 p.m. Complimentary copies of your photo can be picked up at Walgreens Pharmacy at 985 N. Arlington Ave.
The community will resound with music. Various schools and organizations will be caroling, and the Irvington Library will host the Circle City Ringers from 5-6 p.m.
Donations for ICAN, Irvington Churches Advocacy Network, will be accepted throughout the evening. Non-perishable food items can be dropped off at Irving Circle. Monetary donations will be accepted at Irving Circle, ReTulled Consignment Boutique, and during the trolley rides. ICAN and the Affiliated Ministries, which encompasses the Downey Ave. Food Pantry and Hope Counseling Ministries, are all supported by local Irvington churches.
Many shops will have special events throughout the evening. Geneva Hair Studio will have a hot chocolate bar. Take the kids to Bittersweet to decorate a cookie or cupcake. Students from the Irvington Preparatory Academy will be at Artisan Realtors, located at 5610 E. Washington St., wrapping gifts for a donation. Bookmamas will host authors Paul Diebold, author of Greater Irvington: Architecture, People and Places on the Indianapolis Eastside and The History & Architecture of Meridian-Kessler, and Rachel Sahaidachny, editor of Not Like The Rest Of Us: An Anthology of Contemporary Indiana Writers. Black Sheep Gifts, located at 5626 E. Washington St., will have their annual sale.
Make plans to spend the evening, enjoy a meal at one of the great restaurants, discover unique gifts, and enjoy the holiday celebration. The Irvington Business Association thanks the Irvington Holiday Project for decorating the light posts. Find out more information about the Irvington Holiday Open House at the Shop Irvington Facebook page.