News : Holiday Open House: Downtown crowded for beginning of Christmas season

The Palace Lobby was filled with patrons for the free movie 'Home Alone.'

Brett and Sonia Schminke offered samples of Windmill Cellars wines.

Shoppers sign up for door prizes at Clingman Pharmacy.

Muriel Wood helps a customer at The Consignment Co.

Dave Arnold plays music at the Consignment Co.

Judy Batterson offers Engelbrecht wine samples at The Consignment Company @ Mahood's.

Shoppers took advantage of holiday sales at many stores, including Henkle Creek Mercantile.

Kids sign up for a chance to win the Wii Kinect system from VGH at Vinton Palace.

Doug Kamberling offers Stone Cliff wine samples at LaGrange's.

Author J.L. Wilson meets fans and signs books at Nature's Corner.

Judy Trygstad, Nita Suhr and Barb Glime provided music at Nature's Corner during open house.

Olivia Spencer makes friends with a young llama.

Von Ketelsen sings inside the future home of Beth's Bakery during Christmas Open House Sunday.

Von Ketelsen performs holiday songs for Vinton holiday shoppers.

Angie Tharp completes a sale at Tharp's Design, one of many stores to offer special discounts.

The Palace lobby was filled with children and parents, eager to see holiday favorite "Home Alone" on the big screen -- for free, thanks to Virginia Gay Hospital. As they waited in line for the popcorn (also free) they had a chance to sign up for an XBox 360 Kinect system (also courtesy of VGH).

Many downtown shops were as crowded at times as the Palace during the Christmas Open House event. Stores offered Christmas treats, wine tastings, special discounts, and a chance to win door prizes.

Dave Arnold played his saxophone at The Consignment Company @ Mahood's, and radio personality Von Ketelsen was downtown, not with his microphone, but with his guitar. He sang holiday favorites along the sidewalks and in some of the stores, including the newest downtown Vinton business: Beth's Bakery, which should be open before Christmas in the former home of Coppler Jewelry.

Judy Trygstad, the retired middle school band director, played music at Nature's Corner, along with her sister, Nita Suhr, and Barb Glime. While they played, author J.L. Wilson was welcoming visitors at Nature's Corner, and signing books.

Brett and Sonia Schminke of the Old Windmill Cellars Winery near Shellsburg offered samples of their wines at The Cutting Edge. Their wines have won awards at the Benton County Fair in recent years, including the People's Choice Award.

Two other stores offered wine tastings, as well. Doug Kamberling of Stone Cliff Winery was on hand to offer samples at LaGrange Pharmacy, while Judy Batterson offered products from the Engelbrecht winery at The Consignment Company.

Stores were busy as customers took advantage of early sales to begin their Christmas shopping.