The Downtown Mooresville Christmas in July event

Christmas in July?

Visit Downtown Mooresville this month for a special event

by Bek Mitchell-Kidd photography by Lisa Crates

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This month, celebrate the magic of Christmas a little early in Downtown Mooresville, during an event created to support local business and add a little fun to summertime shopping. Hosted by the Mooresville Downtown Commission, the event launched in 2021, and is poised to be even bigger and better this year.

Main Street will be bustling but you won’t have to hustle for a good deal. Most businesses offer discounts and raffles which creates an open-house feel. Stephanie Hathaway, board member of the Mooresville Downtown Commission and a local shop owner, says “We have home decor, art galleries, jewelry stores, clothing and children’s boutiques, specialty shops and more—each store offers special deals throughout the weekend-long event.”

Southern Notions, Hathaway’s store, is known for its fabulous flip as she turns her lakeside summer scene into a wintery wonderland for the event, complete with 50-75 percent off all Christmas home decor items.

You can get jolly as many shops also offer light bites, or wine and beer samples and non-alcoholic options. It’s a family-friendly event with some stores getting into the theme with holiday-themed cookies and hot cocoa for the kiddos.

Restaurants on Main Street are open and often add some fun snacks and sides to complement their wine tastings during the event.

Kim Atkins, Executive Director of the Mooresville Downtown Commission says, “The Mooresville Downtown Commission’s goal for the event is to bring new people to downtown so they can see what our amazing small businesses have to offer, as well as give locals something new and fun to do.”

The vibe is low-key as patrons stroll the historic district, socializing against the amazing architectural backdrop that feels like you’re on a movie set. “We’ve been working for more than a decade to create the energy that we have today, and it’s rewarding to see downtown Mooresville come into its own,” says Atkins.

“I opened my doors for business two-and-a-half years ago and this community felt like an extension of my family from the start,” says Hathaway. “Because we are close to LKN, we get a lot of visitors, but our Mooresville neighbors and surrounding communities do a fantastic job of shopping small and supporting our historic shopping district.”

Christmas in July runs from Fri.-Sun., July 22-24, during regular business hours, and its companion event, ‘Sip & Shop’ is on Fri., July 21 from 6-9:00 p.m. Parking for the event can be found in the lots off Church Street between Center Avenue and Iredell Avenue, with additional parking off Broad Street between McLelland Avenue and Iredell Avenues.

Did you know?

Did you know there’s a Downtown Mooresville app? Download the app or visit DownTownMooresville.com for more information including a calendar of their regularly occurring events such as Festival of Food Trucks.