The Galax Downtown Association will begin its holiday activities with a “Downtown Open House” this Friday-Saturday. 
Downtown stores will have special sales and displays, and volunteers will offer gift-wrapping in the lobby of Chestnut Creek School of the Arts both days, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
A donation of cash, peanut butter or juice boxes for Backpack Buddies is requested, in exchange for gift-wrapping. 
Wrapping is offered for any downtown purchases and for Angel Tree gifts.  Bring the Angel Tree tag with your gifts. 

The Galax Christmas Parade is at 7 p.m. Dec. 7.  The route is from North Main Street to Felts Park. 
Prior to the parade, the city Christmas tree will be lighted at 6:30 p.m. at Police Plaza. 
Any groups or individuals wishing to participate in the parade need to complete an application, available from A Place in Time Antiques or the GDA office (236-0668).  There will be a $10 fee for business entries, and all entries will be judged. 
Two new events will make downtown a holiday destination on Dec. 8. 
From 10 a.m.-4 p.m., the Holiday Gift Expo will be held at Cornerstone Church, 227 S. Main Street.  Vendors who sell merchandise via home parties will be gathered in one place for shopping convenience, and GDA will sell coffee and donuts. 
Sellers include Mary Kay, Pampered Chef, Sabika Jewelry, and many others.  Door prizes and drawings will be held. 
From 5 to 8 that evening, the first Community Christmas Concert will be held at the Rex Theater, featuring school and church choirs and area musicians.  Admission is $5, and popcorn and drinks will be sold by Friends of the Rex. 
The downtown association said it is hoped the event will become a tradition that features a wide variety of Christmas music and the talent of the region. 
The Galax Downtown Association is a non-profit organization supporting and promoting local businesses. “ We hope you will bring visiting relatives and friends to downtown Galax for a small-city celebration of this special time of year,” the association said.