On a Friday morning in late August, dozens of people lined up inside a new storefront on North Ravine Street. They were there for the joint opening of Hitchin' Java and Jazzy's Sweets N Treats, two months after the building that held both businesses' plans came down. KOMU reported that the owners, Haley Kieser and Jasmine Fields, greeted each customer with "Welcome in, we're happy to have you."
Eleven weeks later, the Hitchin' Java coffee truck is on the schedule for the Brick District's Holiday Open House. That makes Friday, Nov. 6 the start of downtown Fulton's holiday season, nearly a month before December. The busiest stretch of the calendar falls in early November, and the summer's hardest-hit businesses are part of it.
From Nichols Street to North Ravine
Part of a privately owned mixed-use building at 505 Nichols St. collapsed on June 17, 2026. That closed Nichols Street in the middle of the Brick District. The City of Fulton announced that Nichols Street and its parking lot reopened to limited traffic on June 23. The reopening followed an initial inspection by a structural engineer, and on-street parking near the building stayed restricted.
Two businesses on that block had been off to a good start. According to KOMU, Jazzy's Sweets N Treats had been open for three months at its Nichols Street location when it had to evacuate. Next door, Hitchin' Java, a Fulton coffee trailer, was about to open its first storefront and never got the chance.
The owners had already been planning events together while they were neighbors. Kieser told KOMU, "When the building collapsed, we just became closer, and the rest is history really." The two businesses held a joint soft opening on North Ravine Street on Aug. 21. Two hours in, Fields told KOMU, "We've seen six or seven regulars already."
So the shared shop on North Ravine is now one of downtown's newer stops. On opening night of the holiday season, the Hitchin' Java truck will also be parked in the Shively Books lot.
Friday, Nov. 6: Opening Night, Hour by Hour
The Brick District's Holiday Open House runs from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday. Here is the schedule the Brick District has posted.
| Time | What's happening | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 4 p.m. | Holiday window reveals | Participating businesses |
| 4–7 p.m. | Carriage rides, $5 per person | Brick District Playhouse |
| 4–7 p.m. | Hitchin' Java coffee truck and kids' crafts | Shively Books parking lot |
| 4–7 p.m. | Photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, local vendor pop-ups | Holly Jolly Shop, 413 Court St. |
| 6 p.m. | Community caroling with the Callaway Singers | First Christian Church steps |
| All evening | Shopping specials and refreshments | Downtown businesses |
Two items are set for a specific time. The window reveal opens the evening at 4 p.m., and the 6 p.m. caroling on the First Christian Church steps comes an hour before the event ends. Carriage rides cost $5 per person and leave from the Brick District Playhouse.
You can enter on either Friday or Saturday for a chance to win one of six $25 Brick District gift cards.
Saturday, Nov. 7: The Cocoa Crawl Starts on Court Street
Saturday runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the starting point carries over from Friday night. The Keep the Cheer Here Cocoa Crawl begins at the Holly Jolly Shop at 413 Court St., with free coffee mugs while supplies last. 2026 Cocoa Crawl merchandise is also for sale. Santa, Mrs. Claus and the vendor pop-ups are back at the same address, and downtown businesses again offer shopping specials and refreshments.
The free mugs are limited, so the start of the morning is the best time to get one.
The Open House also counts as a Brick District passport event. You can pick up a passport at any participating business and collect a stamp at each one. A completed passport enters you in a drawing for a $50 Brick District gift card. If you only make a purchase at a participating business, you're entered for a $25 card. The Brick District gives away one $50 card and two $25 cards at each passport event.
Nov. 8 and Nov. 14: The Weekends After
The Open House is followed by several other events in the next eight days.
- Sunday, Nov. 8, 2 p.m.: The Brick District Playhouse hosts a Toby Keith tribute show.
- Saturday, Nov. 14, 10 to 11:30 a.m.: America's National Churchill Museum holds Fun with Santa & Mrs. Claus. The program is free and open to children 8 and under, and preregistration is required.
- Saturday, Nov. 14: Once Upon a Wolf is on the Brick District Playhouse calendar.
Because of the Churchill Museum's registration requirement, Nov. 14 is the one date in early November that needs planning ahead.
The Playhouse scheduled auditions for Oct. 26 and 27 for The Plight Before Christmas, and its events page says more events are coming.
December: Keep the Cheer Here Goes Countywide
The slogan from the Nov. 7 Cocoa Crawl comes back in December. This time it covers the whole county, and the December events are spread out over more days.
- Dec. 1 through Dec. 11: The Callaway Chamber's 2026 Keep the Cheer Here campaign runs across Callaway County. The Chamber says it will highlight local shops and giveaways.
- Saturday, Dec. 5, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.: The Sneaky Snowman Brick District Basket Raffle is the second passport event of the season, with the same gift card drawings.
- Sunday, Dec. 6, 5:30 to 7 p.m.: Lessons & Carols at America's National Churchill Museum, with free admission.
The Dec. 5 raffle and the Dec. 6 carols fall on the same weekend, roughly a month after the Open House. Like the November weekend, it pairs a Brick District shopping event with a free program at the Churchill Museum the next day. December has two dated weekend events downtown, while Nov. 6 and 7 alone pack in window reveals, carriage rides, Santa visits, caroling, a cocoa crawl and gift card drawings.
A Route for Opening Night
For one evening of the Open House, you can follow the schedule in order.
Arrive by 4 p.m. on Nov. 6 for the window reveals. Then get a passport stamped at each participating business, stop by the Hitchin' Java truck in the Shively Books lot, and visit the Holly Jolly Shop at 413 Court St. Leave time for a $5 carriage ride from the Playhouse, and finish at the First Christian Church steps for the 6 p.m. caroling. On Saturday morning, the Cocoa Crawl starts back at 413 Court St. at 10 a.m.
The shared Hitchin' Java and Jazzy's Sweets N Treats storefront is on North Ravine Street, a separate stop from the Open House schedule.
The Brick District's holiday calendar is one example of how much happens within a few blocks of downtown Fulton. If you're thinking about a home within walking distance of Court Street, or selling one, I'd be glad to talk it through with you. Reach out to Alexia Goodson, and let's connect.
