Start Thinking Holidays at Woodbridge Mall This Weekend

Though the calendar and thermometer may say it's the dead of summer, a store in the Woodbridge Center Mall begs to differ.  Behind a red curtain in the Hallmark store, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

This weekend marks the debut of the 2012 Hallmark Ornaments, and the store is celebrating with early openings of 8 AM each day.

"This is the 40th anniversary of the Keepsake Ornament Club, and this weekend, we show off the premiere of our ornaments (for 2012)," said Woodbridge store Sales Lead Jon Delosreyes.  "There are a lot of collectors out there."

The event, which is years past has seen eager ornament-buyers line up outside of the store up to a half hour before the early opening, is the first chance to buy first-in-series ornaments such as Magician Mickey, a holiday lighthouse and a Christmas scene set in a Christmas tree cookie cutter.  It's also the first opportunity to purchase Matinee Fashion Barbie, the 19th and final ornament in the Barbie Ornament series.

Members of the Keepsake Ornament Club can also purchase club-exclusive ornaments for the first time at the event, such as a public library, an angel, and a Barbie "Stunning in the Spotlight" ornament.

"We get a decent amount of people in here," said Delosreyes of the annual premiere weekend.  "It gets pretty hectic."

If the 8 AM opening time is too early for you on a weekend or you just don't want to deal with the crowd, Hallmark also offers a wishlist option, said Delosreyes.  "People can give us their orders ahead of time by filling out the wishlist, and if we have them, we'll put them aside."  The wishlist is available at the store.