The Mount Airy Downtown Business Association will host its first-ever Rock the Runway fashion show that will be held next Saturday at 1 p.m. at Old North State Winery.

The fashion show will spotlight the fall fashions and back to school items which can all be found downtown. Featured merchants include The Main Oak Emporium, F. Rees, Fancy Gap Outfitters, The Addition at F. Rees, Mayberry Consignments, What’s Needlin’ Ewe and F. Rees Ladies Upstairs.

Admission to the fashion show is free, however patrons are encouraged to bring non-perishable foods to be donated to Hungry Bears, a program utilized by all Mount Airy City Schools which provides children in need with backpacks filled with food for each weekend.

“The fashion show has been scheduled for tax-free weekend, a time at which many local, independently owned stores are often overlooked by consumers who may favor larger ‘big box’ stores. Shopping locally is the best way to boost our local economy and ensures that your money stays in the community,” said Jennie Lowry with the DBA.

Several downtown stores will offer special sales for the Rock the Runway fashion show and tax-free weekend. There will be sidewalk sales throughout downtown the day of the Rock the Runway event. The Addition and Henry & Belle will match donations to Hungry Bears with a special discount on all Henry & Belle denim sales during the first week of August. Henry & Belle, a well-known, celebrity-worn denim line, often donates a portion of its sales to charities specified by the purchaser.

Swag bags will be presented to the first 50 in attendance to the fashion show filled with information on downtown merchants and their products. For more information on Rock the Runway and a list of food suitable for the Hungry Bears program, visit www.mountairydowntown.org.