Whoville comes to downtown Jonesborough Thanksgiving weekend

Downtown Jonesborough transforms into Whoville on Friday and Saturday, complete with Grinch treats, a hot chocolate bar, horse rides and the Cheermeister holiday competition.The two-day slate of holiday events will occur on Thanksgiving weekend with the Whoville Wholiday Shop & Hop on Friday, Nov. 28, followed by A Whoville Christmas and Small Business Saturday on Nov. 29, according to announcements from the town.The Shop & Hop runs from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday and will send visitors on a downtown stroll featuring more than 10 treat stops offering Grinch- and Whoville-themed sweets. Organizers say stops will serve green and red cupcakes, Grinch bark, peppermint treats and other themed snacks, along with a build-your-own hot chocolate bar stocked with toppings. Horse and carriage rides will be available for a ticket punch or five dollars per person.Town officials say the event also encourages attendees to explore Jonesborough's locally owned boutiques, stores and restaurants while they collect treats. Each $15 ticket includes access to 10 treat stops and can be picked up in front of the Washington County Courthouse between 3:30 and 5 p.m. Friday. The event leads into the annual Lighting of the Christmas Tree at 6 p.m., which takes place downtown.The town describes the Shop & Hop as a prequel to A Whoville Christmas, which will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and coincide with Small Business Saturday. The weekend's second event features visits with the Grinch at the Christopher Taylor Cabin, where children can take selfies and receive treats.Saturday's schedule includes the Jonesborough Cheermeister Competition at 1 p.m. in front of the Courthouse. Groups of three to five people can enter for free, and each group will choose members to compete in categories such as best Christmas attire, best wrapped gift, a holiday sing-along, a cookie-decorating contest and a cookie-eating contest. If judges need a tiebreaker, the contest will finish with a round of Grinch trivia. Registration is available at JBOChristmas.com.Children can visit the International Storytelling Center for face painting, crafts and cookie decorating, sponsored by Food City of Jonesborough. A Whoville hairstyle station will also be available at the event.As part of Small Business Saturday, shoppers can stop by the Shop Small Welcome Tent next to the Courthouse for a shopping bag and Jonesborough swag while supplies last. Free horse and carriage rides will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.The Christmas Marketplace will be set up on the Plaza at the Storytelling Center with handmade gifts from local artisans, and food trucks will be located on the west side of the Courthouse. Santa will be in town to hand out treats and take photos, and children can drop letters in Santa's Mailbox beside his sleigh; letters with a return address received by Dec. 18 will get a reply before Christmas.Free gift wrapping for items purchased downtown or at the marketplace will be offered inside the Storytelling Center each Saturday during the Christmas in Olde Jonesborough series.More information is available at jonesborough.com/whovilleshophop and JBOChristmas.com or by calling (423) 753-1010.