The 2010 Christmas Season is upon us and old and new traditions are running deep in Uptown Shelby this year. The Uptown Shelby holiday festivities hold a rich tradition for young and old in Shelby and beyond. Starting the day after Thanksgiving, Carriage Rides and Santa's House will be on the Court Square in Uptown Shelby.

November 26th starts the official holiday events on the court square in Uptown Shelby. Carriage rides begin at 5:30 and run until 8:30. Cost for carriage rides are $8 for adults and $4 for children under 10. New this year to the Shelby tradition is the Uptown Shelby Community Tree Lighting. Join friends and neighbors on the court square to mark the beginning of the holiday season with an official tree lighting ceremony beginning at 7:00 PM, coming together as a community to mark the start of a great holiday season. Make sure to shop our uptown merchants who will be staying open late on Friday nights for all your holiday shopping.

First National Bank's Santa's House and Toyland begin uptown November 26 on the court square for all the boys and girls that can't wait to tell jolly old Saint Nick what they want in their stockings. First National's festivities begin at 5:00PM until 9:00PM. Toyland will be at 101 W. Warren St. this year across the street from the court square.

Carriage Rides, Santa's House and Toyland will be on Friday nights starting November 26 and run through December until Christmas, December 3, 10, 17. Carriage rides are from 5:30-8:30 and Santa's House and Toyland are from 5:00-9:00. Cleveland County Arts Council will be open on Friday night's beginning on December 3 and Bankers House Tours will be December 10th.

While uptown on Friday nights be sure to visit the Smithsonian exhibit at the Don Gibson Theatre, New Harmonies Celebrating Roots Music; for more information on the exhibit see www.mydestinationcc.org.

Mark your calendars for the Shelby Christmas Parade on Sunday, December 19th at 3:00.

For more information on the uptown events please call Uptown Shelby Association at 704-484-3100, visit our website www.uptownshelby.org or Facebook .

Uptown Shelby Association is a non-profit organization formed to coordinate revitalization work in the Historic Uptown commercial district. The organization was one of the first Main Street organizations under a National Trust for Historic Preservation program, and one of the first five certified Main Street cities in North Carolina. Uptown Shelby Association sponsors special events, offers incentives for new businesses, and advocates for historic preservation in the commercial district.