To kick off the holiday shopping season, Monument Square District (MSD) will host its annual Holiday Open House Nov. 6-8 in downtown Urbana.

For over a decade, the MSD-sponsored event has helped shoppers get a jump-start on their Christmas shopping lists by getting all the downtown businesses and eateries to participate by offering extended hours and other incentives to bring customers in.

“Each shop will have its own store specials, events and fun-filled days,” MSD Board member Pam Bowshier said.

As a downtown business owner, Bowshier, who owns Cosmic Charlie Baking and Bread at 116 Scioto St., knows the importance of such an event for downtown establishments.

“It is the biggest shopping weekend of the year, and it brings crowds of people from all over,” she said. “It is a huge weekend of sales for the downtown businesses, and it’s a tradition that is anticipated each and every November.”

The hours for this year’s Holiday Open House are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.