Shops and businesses in Downtown Tryon welcome you this holiday season. The annual Christmas Stroll takes place on Friday, Dec. 1 from 5-8 p.m. throughout downtown Tryon.

The annual Tree Lighting will take place at the town’s tree in front of Huckleberry’s Restaurant at 62 N. Trade St. at 5:30 p.m. Holy Cross Episcopal Church’s childrens choir will accompany the tree lighting. Please bring canned food to donate to Thermal Belt Outreach.

Music will fill the streets and stores of Downtown Tryon. The Schweitzer Strings will play indoors at the Jackson Building (17 S Trade St.) and an additional performance outdoors later in the evening. A brass ensemble from Tuba Christmas “Tryon Tubas” will perform outdoors, along with strolling carolers from the Tryon Little Theater. Members of the Carolina Community Chorus will perform, as well as Audio Angelica. Janet and Cliff Joens will play the celtic harp, and local favorite, the Cigarette Holders will jazz up the evening. Dance performances from Realta Irish Dance and Dance Dynamics will round out our musical evening. A complete schedule and locations of performances will be available on the day of the stroll.

There will be tons of shopping and things to do indoors and outdoors on this kickoff to the Christmas season. Starting at the north end of town, Katie D’s NY Bagels & Deli will be open with holiday surprises and New Outlook Salon will have five different vendors in a shop and sip event. A Taste of Olives and Grapes will have holiday treats and gluhwein. New downtown business, Comfort Keepers will also share the outdoor space, along with Tryon Gold and Coin, serving up peppermint cake pops. EquiTreasures & More will also have holiday treats, wine, mulled cider and great holiday shopping.

The Shops of Tryon will feature hors d’oeuvre, holiday drinks and treats at all of the businesses, including HOOP’s Antiques & Vintage Collectibles and Vines of Tryon. Stop in and bid on the silent auction for the Morris at Christmas artwork at Willis and Sellers Gallery. Proceeds from the silent auction will be split between the artist and TDDA for future arts projects. Tryon Arts and Crafts School will have a pop-up gift shop at Cielo Real Estate

Heading down Trade Street, take a peek at new downtown retail shop, Hidden Spirits, with unique carved wood sculptures and local artisan crafts. The Book Shelf will have a Christmas reading and cookies for all ages, while Lavender Bistro will have chocolate martinis, select glasses of wine and other drink specials. Stroll along the street and stop in at Tryon Foothills Realty before checking out the great entertainment at St. Luke’s Plaza and the Tryon Fountain.

At the Plaza, the Tryon Coffee House Co-op will host their first ever cookie exchange, and Huckleberry’s will be serving up soup samples and retail items for sale.

Owen’s Pharmacy will host a  pop-up shop of Lularoe clothing and Paparazzi jewelry as well as holiday refreshments and Main Street Insurance will serve up additional holiday treats. The Tryon Bottle will have their weekly wine tasting and heading down the street, stop in The Nest Artisan Market, and Black Coffee for more fun. At the Jackson Building shops, the Green Blades Garden Club will have Christmas items for sale, and Chef Jen will have a decorate your own gingerbread man table, Maggie of Dixie Belle will serve New Orleans Gumbo, and they will host a Gingerbread house raffle to benefit the Fans of Harmon field. Head up to Upstairs ArtSpace for tree trimming and over to Grace Foothills Church for children’s crafts.

GRO (Growing Rural Opportunities) will bring their food-mobile to the stroll.

Additional kids craft activities will be at the Shops of Tryon parking area.

There is plenty to do in Downtown Tryon for the holidays! Shop, dine and play locally and join the Tryon Historical Museum for their tour of historic homes on Saturday, Dec. 3 at Harmon Field.

TDDA works to revitalize and preserve downtown Tryon through economic development, quality design and preserving the historic nature of downtown, and promotion of downtown. We do this through partnerships with the Polk County Community Foundation, businesses, local government and governing boards, and more. For more information, visit downtowntryon.org. To be a volunteer “elf,” call 828-859-6484.

– submitted by Jamie Carpenter