Members of the Hammond community will have the opportunity this week to fill their Friday evening with Santa Claus, a horse drawn carriage ride for two and a stroll through the snow. All is available for the sixth annual Starry November Night.

Starry November Night will be held on Friday, Nov. 19, from 5-9 p.m. in the Hammond downtown area.

“It’s a family event and the first event to kickoff the holiday season,” said Melissa Griffin, event coordinator with the Hammond Downtown Development District (DDD).

This year, the DDD will be offering something extra for the Southeastern community for the holiday event.

“Everything is pretty much the same this year, except we are adding transportation for Southeastern students and faculty members who are concerned about parking or don’t have other means of transportation and want to attend the event,” said Griffin. “But parking really shouldn’t be a problem. There really is a lot downtown.”

Lion Traxx shuttle buses will be picking up and dropping off students and faculty members with a valid Southeastern ID every 10 minutes in front of D Vickers Hall and dropping them off at La Carreta’s Mexican Restaurant. This will take place from 5:30-10 p.m.

Holiday music will be heard throughout the downtown area  with live music, while attendees visit different vendors and shops that will be selling holiday gift ideas as well as their normal merchandise.

Older participants are invited to join in during the annual wine tasting while the younger participants are invited to visit Santa Claus to take their picture with him and give him their holiday wish list. There will also be refreshments for all involved.

Other activities for the night include stargazing, playing in the snow provided via a snow machine through the DDD and enjoying horse drawn carriage rides. There is also an art stroll set all around the downtown area that features artwork of both Southeastern students and local artists for everyone to view.

For any questions or concerns, individuals can contact Melissa Griffin or DDD director Terry Lynn Smith by calling 985-542-3471 or visiting the DDD Web site at www.hammond.org/ddd.