Irwin will transport residents back to the horse-and-buggy days with a Christmas Cookie Tour, which will promote the downtown shops and offer free samples of cookies.

The event is set for Friday, Dec. 8, from 5 to 8 p.m. with twilight tour, luminaries, horse-drawn carriage rides and strolling carolers. On Saturday, Dec. 9, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., choral groups, musicians and horse-drawn carriage rides will create a festive mood.

Debbie Kelly, of the Irwin Business and Professional Association, says the event has been a staple of Irwin's holiday festivities for the last three years but the cookies are new this year.

"We've kicked it up a notch," she says.

Eighteen businesses and organizations will have sample cookies for visitors. Live entertainment will ring throughout downtown on both days.

The Young Timers Opera Company will carol through the streets on Friday, while John Smialowski performs a "Christmas Spectacular" concert in Covenant Hall at 8 p.m. Tickets are $8.

Visitors can enter a drawing for $100 in "Irwin bucks" to be used at participating Irwin shops after getting a cookie tour participant card stamped at each location.

Cookies will be sold at the end of the tour at Queen of Angels Catholic School, where student performances will take place from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

Christy Kemerer, owner of Cheesecake Caffe, will bake 17 types of cookies for the event, including two that were donated by Irwin business owner Mary Ann Petrillo.

"The recipes are from my mother, Julia Bennett," Petrillo says. "I have two other sisters and we used to help my mother bake the cookies. They can always be found at weddings and family reunion."

She says her mother, who resides in Florida, still bakes the Texas sheet cake and cherry squares cookies.

"It's a nice event for the community and I hope it draws people down here," Petrillo says.

Kemerer says she is eager to bake the cookies and excited about the cookie tour.

"I've baked more than 300 cookies on Christmas so this is nothing compared to that," she says.

Susan Cardoza, owner of the Green Bough, says her friend, Rose Lord, owner of Cornucopia Cookies, will bake organic cookies for the event.

"I hope that we can bring people from all over," Kelly says. We hope to enlighten nearby communities to the wonderful downtown shops."

If you're going ...

Saturday's entertainment at Fourth and Main streets includes: 11 a.m., Jerry Jacobs; 11:30 a.m., Caitlin Fonzo and Francesca Condeluci on violin; noon, Jazz Band with Garrett Pence, DJ Comer, Ellen Lundy, Chelsea Wolf, Jeremy Anderson and Justin Walters; 12:30 p.m., Glenn Raymer from All Occasions Disc Jockeys will play Christmas music; 1 p.m., Pam Mielnicki and Kris Birus; and 1:30 p.m., Cheryl Kelemen.

Stage coach stops

Stop 1: Queen of Angels

Stop 2: 5th and Oak streets -- First Assembly of God, Tyger Promotions at Janet's School of Dance

Stop 3: 2nd Street -- Saige Jen Taylor, BJM Ceramics and Killybegs Irish Gift Shop.

Stop 4: 4th and Main streets --Pamela's Cards and Gifts, Victoria Bauer, Woleslagle's Interiors, Nina Vonne's Hair Gallery, Romano's Pizza and Cafe, The Green Bough, Jacob's Ladder, attorney Mary Ann Petrillo and Curious Cat.

Stop 5: 510 Main St. -- State Sen. Bob Regola and Cheesecake Caffe.