There’s nothing like hearing a well-read Christmas story to get you in the mood for Santa, gift-giving and feasting.

The Cherokee County Literacy Association will sponsor its second annual “Christmas Stories of the Season,” where local citizens will read aloud Christmas classics at the libraries in Cherokee County.

The readings are free, and the public is invited to attend. Light refreshments will be served. Santa Claus is expected to make an appearance at both events.

The first reading will be Monday, Dec. 20, at 10 a.m. at the Cherokee County Public Library in Gaffney. On the agenda are Gaffney Mayor Henry Jolly, Miss Cherokee County Elizabeth Shirk, radio newsman Dennis Fowler, newspaper publisher Cody Sossamon, the Rev. Stuart Kersey and others.

Some of the stories to be read are “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas”; “Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus”; and ‘“Jest Before Christmas.”

The second reading will be Tuesday, Dec. 21, at 10 a.m. at the Blacksburg Public Library.

That agenda includes Blacksburg Mayor David Hogue reading “The Polar Express,” Miss Cherokee County Teen Tiffany Garner reading “The Crippled Lamb,” radio newscaster Knox Blanton reading “The Story of Christmas,” Dr. Charles Barnard reading “The Bible Story,” Literacy Board President Mary Phillips reading “Invitation to a Birthday Party for the Christ Child” and others.

“We started this new tradition last year,” Rev. Dewitt Clyde, Literacy Association Executive Director, said.

“It was such a tremendous success, we decided to do it again and hope to do it for years to come. It is our gift to the community.

“What better way to promote reading than to have the leading citizens of our community read Christmas classics to children and those young at heart?”

For more information about these free public events, please call the Cherokee County Literacy Association at (864) 487-2707.