Downtown Edmonds Merchants’ annual holiday open house, formally “First Dibs,”  will be kicking off the holiday season the evening of Thursday, Nov. 18 and run through Nov. 21.

On Thursday, stores will be open until 8 p.m.  The Rainbow City Band will be playing Christmas music on downtown Edmonds streets, and many stores will have holiday specials. In addition, during First Dibs, merchants are introducing a new holiday tradition: Fourteen stores will be giving out Christmas cookie cutters and their favorite cookie recipes with samples — available to the first 24 customers with a purchase. This Thursday also is the monthly Art Walk, with many stores participating.