DOWAGIAC — Christmas may be 41 days away, but downtown Dowagiac business owners like to celebrate early.

This Friday and Saturday, The Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce will host its Open House Weekend. On Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., specialty shops in town will offer visitors discounts, holiday-themed treats and merchandise. The Dogwood Fine Arts Gallery will host its reopening from 6 to 8 p.m. at Commercial and Penn avenue.

On Saturday, a slew of events will be offered for families and visitors to Dowagiac, including an Old-World Santa, magic reindeer dust, roasting marshmallows, crafts and miniature horses at a number of downtown businesses and organizations.

This year marked Ascension Borgess Lee Hospital’s 14th consecutive year as a $2,000 underwriter for Dowagiac’s Christmas festivals.

Event chairman, chamber of commerce and downtown development authority program director Vickie Phillipson said without the support of corporate underwriters, like the hospital, events such as the open house weekend, would not be possible.

“We are very grateful to Ascension Borgess Lee Hospital for again stepping forward as the major underwriter of our holiday celebration,” Phillipson said. “We are fortunate to have the steadfast support of the hospital and all of our corporate underwriters.”

Open House Weekend is one of the most important times of the year for the retail community in downtown Dowagiac, Phillipson said. Shop owners have spent weeks working on their holiday and merchandise selections, she added.

“This weekend, all of their hard work comes together as they present their finest merchandise for the gift-giving season,” Phillipson said.  “As a special thank you to our loyal patrons, living here in Dowagiac and traveling to our community, each of the specialty shops will also offer special discounts and festive treats this weekend.”

Local youth will perform from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday during the festival. Miss Michele & Co. will kick-off the performances from 10 to 11 a.m., followed by Dowagiac Union High School’s choir, which will perform from 11 a.m. to noon. Green Dance Academy and Positively Dance will perform from noon to 1 p.m., followed by the Dowagiac Union High School Marching band, which will be coming off its fall performance schedule.

Phillipson said between all four of the groups, an estimated 75 to 80 students will be performing in the streets of downtown Dowagiac.

“I am especially excited to have the marching band and choir with us,” Phillipson said. “This will be a real treat to have these students play a significant role in the Open House on Saturday. We hope this connection will help strengthen their love for their hometown.”

In staying with a theme of holiday crafting, the Theta Mu sorority will be hosting its annual 23rd art and craft show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Dowagiac Middle School, 57072 Riverside Dr., Dowagiac. Theta Mu, a sorority with eight women, coordinates more than 100 booths and vendors arriving in Dowagiac on Saturday.

The Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce also hosts a small business Saturday on Nov. 30 and Candle-light Christmas Parade on Dec. 6 to celebrate the holidays in downtown Dowagiac with the community.