WEST POINT -- It's that time of year again. And the holiday shopping season is getting a kick start in West Point with the Christmas Open House Extravaganza, Sunday. From 1 p.m. until 5 p.m., 22 stores will open for business in the Mossy Oak Outlet, around town and in historic downtown.

Merchants will be serving refreshments, offering discounts, door prizes and much more.

The Ladies of Junior Auxiliary will be selling their "Down Home" cookbooks. Cindy Neely's elementary art class from Churchill School will be selling handmade Mississippi and West Point ornaments along with some of the children's paintings and sculptures. And The Oak Hill Band will be entertaining the crowds and selling fruit to raise money. Lots and lots going on but you must be in West Point on Sunday to not miss out on all the excitement.

Maps will be made available, and the Old Waverly Golf Club has donated their van to transport shoppers to Fore Seasons, a store housing antiques and eclectic treasures, and then out to the Mossy Oak Outlet on Highway 45 and then back to downtown West Point.

The West Point-Clay County Arts Council is sponsoring the Artist and Authors Showcase in the McClure Building on the corner of Broad and Commerce streets. Local painter, Lee Gibson and basket weaver Bessie Johnson will be in attendance along with 17 other artists. The results of the Amateur Photography Contest sponsored by the Arts Council will be announced and the works will be on display.

Black Voices Gospel Choir from Starkville to sing Christmas carols in the street entertaining both locals and the lucky visitors.

For more information, call 662-494-5121 or e-mail mallen@westpointms.org.