GENOA – The merchants of downtown Genoa welcome the holiday season with candlelight on Thursday, Nov. 8.  The annual Candlelight Open House begins at 5 p.m. and continues until the last guest goes home.

“Volunteers will start preparing hundreds of luminaries early Thursday morning,” said Gene Bradford, chair of the Genoa Main Street Promotions Committee that oversees the event. “Then just before dark, more volunteers will fan out along both sides of Main Street to light them.”

The unique spin on the start of the holiday season includes free refreshments at many downtown businesses. Merchants are busy decorating for the holidays and preparing displays of the latest holiday merchandise.