Downtown Thomasville will come alive next Thursday night in the cool night air as the Christmastime downtown stroll fills the streets with sights and sounds of Christmas.

There will be live music, including local singers signing Christmas Carols, a Christmas train ride on a mini train through downtown streets and a horse-drawn "carriage" ride. The rides will take riders through downtown and riders will get to hear stories of Christmases past in Thomasville while enjoying cookies and drinks.

Carolers will take to the stage on Wilson Avenue and Junior Women will be hosting a Santa's Workshop where kids will get to decorate cookies, and ornaments and make picture frames. Wishing Well Farm will offer pony rides for the kids near Clay Park and McLean Photography will be making Santa pictures.

There will be a live nativity scene and a "snow park" play area. The Thomasville Research Club will be selling chili and People's Corner will be open serving up good eats.

Downtown merchants will also be open special hours for those coming downtown.

The stroll is scheduled to run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 11 and is organized by the Thomasville Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Merchants Association.

After the downtown stroll, the chamber will be focusing its energy on lighting up Thomasville. The chamber will be holding a Christmas decorating contest for residents and businesses in town.

There will be two categories, traditional and modern/creative. Traditional themes are asked to be Biblical in reference, where the modern category can be anything as long as its family friendly, chamber officials said.

Judging will be based on beauty, uniformity/presentation, special lighting/effects, design and color and visibility.

The cost to enter is $10 and entries must be received by the chamber office by Dec. 15 with judging to take place Dec. 18. All decorations to be judged must be visible from the street as judging will be done from car.