Santa will be posing for photos from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Dalton Freight Depot as part of a four-day open house to kick off the holiday shopping season.The Downtown Dalton Development Authority will kick its four-day Holiday Open House with a reception from 5:30 to 7 p.m. today at the historic Freight Depot, 305 S. Depot St. in Dalton, Ga. Admission is free.
The reception will begin with a performance of scenes from "The Nutcracker" ballet from the Dalton Art Project. It will conclude with the unveiling of the holiday window display at the Dalton Freight Depot.
"Peacocks on Parade," initiated by the DDDA in 2011, is the first large-scale art program in downtown Dalton. Its featured 5- by 5-foot fiberglass peacocks have been adopted by various businesses and organizations. The reception will be an opportunity to see the peacocks before they are placed on the streets in their permanent locations.
The open house continues through Sunday with extended shopping hours and discounts at downtown merchants.
The 53rd annual Kiwanis Pancake Day will be in Dalton Green Park from 6 a.m. to noon Saturday. Also scheduled Saturday at the Freight Depot are free horse-and-carriage rides from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Downtown Dollars drawings from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., photos with Santa from 3 to 5 p.m. and refreshments.
For more information, call Veronica French at 706-278-3332.