While Halloween is still weeks away, the Mount Airy Downtown Business Association is already working to draw customers downtown for the Christmas shopping season. Right now, they need people and organizations that can help make that happen.

Peter Cook, vice president of the DBA and chairman of the Christmas committee, said the group is inviting those who have ideas, events or activities planned, to come to the 308 Bistro on every other Wednesday starting Oct. 14 at 8:30 a.m. for planning meetings.

“We are going to have organizational meetings for anybody who has activities that are going to be related to Christmas, especially between Thanksgiving and Christmas,” Cook said.

Downtown merchants are going to start staying open later on Thursday nights when time draws nearer to the Christmas season.

“We are going to promote Thursday, Friday and Saturday as being the time for people to come to Mount Airy. We are trying to tag Mount Airy as America’s hometown,” Cook said.

He said the DBA is trying to solicit not just merchants, but organizations and groups who can also benefit from participating in the effort.

“We’ve got a Christmas parade to organize. We’ve got floats. We are looking for bands, even church groups that are willing to have quartets or small groups singing Christmas carols on the street corners on Thursday and Friday nights and Saturday during the day. We are looking to create an atmosphere that feels like America’s hometown should feel,” Cook said.

“We are looking for more participation from people. If anybody has got an idea, they need to come to these meetings. Hopefully we can get merchants and organizations or anybody that wants to participate, to come to those meetings so we can coordinate the calendar,” he said.

As far as the Christmas parade is concerned, Cook said Twyla Sickmiller has already stepped up to organize the annual event.

“We are looking for sponsors for floats. We’re looking for people to be in the parade. We want to open it up so it’s an event that includes the whole community. We are also looking for high school bands from out of the area,” Cook said.

Sickmiller can be reached at 308 Bistro before 11 a.m. and after 2 p.m. at 786-8600 or at 786-2147 at the Maxwell House Bed and Breakfast.

Cook can be reached at 835-1513 or at pcook@heartlandpublications.com.

Contact Mondee Tilley at mtilley@mtairynews.com or at 719-1930.