The Delta Gateway Museum, Main Street Blytheville and local merchants have teamed up to present "Christmas at the Kress."
The event will include booths from area organizations selling homemade baked goods and crafted items, such as personalized gifts, hand-crafted ornaments and items and other shopping opportunities for last-minute gift-giving.
The purpose of the event is to "raise a little operating cash" for the museum, but also to give the public an opportunity to see what has been done in the old department store building.
According to David Lytle, a board member of the museum, work includes the creation of new office and meeting space, as well as handicapped-accessible restrooms, display space and a classroom.
"We hope to bring in school groups so they can have hands-on experience with our displays and learn about our history," Lytle said. Classes ranging from the history of the area to the modern-day culture will take place. "We may even let the Game and Fish guys bring in their snakes for the kids to see," Lytle said.
The large, open space display space is still there, but the back portion of the space has been modified into work space, offices, conference rooms, a kitchen, restrooms and the classroom, Lytle said.
"This used to be the mezzanine level," Lytle explained, pointing up to an area between the first and second floors of the building. "The mezzanine level is still there. It is still usable space. We just placed this wall in front of it to enclose the area," he said.
The building features three levels in all, providing work areas and storage space for the museum pieces that will eventually be on display there, he said.
Merchants from Main Street have provided window decorations for the Kress building, including Christmas trees and gift items.
While some may feel it is too commercial, Lytle said it provides people with ideas for gift-giving and shows them items that are available for purchase from Main Street businesses.
Christmas at the Kress will take place Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Santa will be on hand to visit and pictures with Santa will be available.
For more information, contact Nancy Gurley at 763-7742.
dhilton@couriernews.com