Santa looms large in this small shop tucked into a storefront on Ravenna’s Main Street.A holiday horde of snowmen, carolers and reindeer figures and collectibles, as well as Christmas wares also have invaded.They are right at home given that the shop is called House of Holiday Ornaments — or HO HO for short.Barb Burner, owner of the 14-year-old store, points to a corner of the shop where an artificial upside-down Christmas tree is used to display dozens of glass ornaments.“Customers can stand closer to the tree and see what’s on it if it’s upside down,” the 74-year-old said matter-of-factly. “It’s space saving.”The white-flocked tree — a local landmark of sorts — isn’t always a Christmas tree; earlier this fall it was a Halloween tree, displaying orange and black decorations.The House of Holiday Ornaments name is misleading, Burner said.“This shop is all season,” she said, “We’ve become a gift shop.”Now, however, the series of rooms that make up the shop are chock full of Christmas items.Burner has stocked the store with a variety of brands, including Old World glass ornaments and Santas, angels, snowmen and other figures designed by Jim Shore for Enesco.In one room, angel figures, made by Foundations, watch over lighted miniature buildings and houses made by Department 56.Burner’s favorite holiday line is the numbered Pipka Santas. Each year, Pipka Ulvilden of Wisconsin designs a handful of different Santas,which are reproduced in marble resin in limited quantities.Burner noted that she carries some made-in-the USA items, including Christmas caroler figures made by Byer’s Choice and lamps and other decorative items made from dried gourds by Meadowbrooke Gourds. Both are Pennsylvania companies that manufacture in that state.The store also features Bath and body products made by Crabtree & Evelyn, with manufacturing facilities in this country and the U.K.Burner noted she retired twice before opening House of Holiday Ornaments.First, she hung up her elementary teaching job, and then she retired from Kent State University, where she did clerical work as part of a research grant.She wanted to keep busy and took a part-time job working for a florist. He had a small space above his Ravenna shop where Burner decided to sell Christmas items year round.“The rent was extremely low ... I’ve always loved Christmas,” she said.She soon moved to the current, larger space, which gave her more visibility, as well as the room to offer a wider variety of gifts.Burner, who along with other merchants works hard to promote downtown Ravenna shopping, said she has no plans to retire again. “I have too much energy,” she said. “And I don’t like to travel. I want to be out with people.”The store at 224 W. Main is open from 10 a.m.to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Downtown Ravenna will be the site of the town’s Annual Lighted Christmas Parade, which will begin at 7 p.m. today. The parade starts off at the old Ravenna High School located on Clinton Street.Also in Portage County, downtown Kent merchants are touting that city’s Festival of Lights, beginning at 5:30 p.m., at the Home Savings Plaza at Water and Main Streets, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Santa will arrive at 6 p.m.Katie Byard can be reached at 330-996-3781 or kbyard@thebeaconjournal.com.