La Jolla Village kicks off the holiday season Sunday, Nov. 9, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. when 12 Girard Avenue merchants open their doors for a traditional festive open house. “We’ve been doing it for at least 20 years,” said Lynn Jahn, general manager of Adelaide’s. “It’s a way to work with other merchants and an opportunity to have people come to town to see the entertainment and join in the raffles — we give away roses, but there’s also a lot of community spirit.” Gina Phillips, owner of Adelaide’s, began organizing the event and increasing the number of participating merchants along the 7600, 7700 and 7800 blocks of Girard Avenue to form the holiday open house, Jahn said. The past few years, Phillips gathered the participating merchants and asked them to donate a percentage of the day’s sales to charity, Jahn said. “Just the last two years there’s been a twist, and now we give a portion to charities,” Jahn said. “Last year, we gave 10 percent to the Alzheimer’s Association. This year, we’re donating to the Florence Riford Center.” The Riford Adult Center at 6811 La Jolla Blvd. helps guide aging people gracefully, Jahn said. The center offers Tai Chi, aerobics and computer classes, among other things, she said. Adelaide’s flower and gift store opened for business more than 70 years ago, when Adelaide started her first flower stand in Leucadia in 1933, Jahn said. Then Adelaide moved to La Jolla in 1949, and now her granddaughter is running the store. But Phillips isn’t the only multi-generational La Jolla storeowner. Nancy Warwick, owner of Warwick’s – also a multi-generational business – said her customers look forward to the holiday open house every year. “It’s a very social event,” Warwick said. “All the merchants partnering would get their Christmas and Hanukkah goods out for their customers to browse and walk around.” The La Jolla Country Day Madrigals usually sing, along with other entertainment, and the shops serve refreshments. Authors will also sign books for customers, and the merchants donate 10 percent to charity. Participating Girard Avenue shops include Adelaide’s, Ark Antiques for Animal Charities, Ascot Shop, Burns Drugs, Euro-Comfort Footwear, Everett Stunz, Girard Gourmet, La Jolla FiberArts, Meanley and Sons, Muttropolis, NestLife and Warwick’s. For more information call Adelaide’s, (858) 454-0146.