Today is the day so many holiday enthusiasts have been waiting for in Gainesville, as the official kick-off to the holiday season happens in the form of Jingle Mingle and the Lighting of the Chicken!
An annual event hosted by Main Street Gainesville, Jingle Mingle is slated for 4-8 p.m. on the historic and Roosevelt squares in Downtown Gainesville, hosted by Main Street Gainesville. It will also mark the City’s fifth annual Festival of Trees kickoff, held at the same time in the Gainesville Administration Building: https://www.gainesville.org/.../2024-Festival-of-Trees...
Main Street Manager Nicole Parham says the downtown square will feature activities and offerings centered around the lighting of Gainesville’s 25-foot, 1,500-pound metal chicken sculpture atop Main Street Market.
From 4-6:30 p.m., attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy the following family-friendly activities: kiddie train rides; carriage rides; photos, visits with the Coca-Cola Polar Bear; open houses at local businesses on the square, s’mores station manned by the fire department; an inflatable slide; and more! Be sure to visit the Roosevelt Square Local Stage, where individual performers will be making spirits even brighter.
Well before the Lighting of the Chicken ceremony at 6:45 p.m., Santa Claus will arrive at 5 p.m., courtesy of the Gainesville Fire Department, to take photos with the community's youth. Santa will be positioned at the center of the historic square until 8 p.m.
Please note parking immediately around the square will become unavailable starting at 5 a.m. today. Main Street will close at 1 p.m., followed by Spring, Bradford and Washington streets at 2 p.m. To allow for carriage rides traveling northwest from the corner of Bradford and Washington streets, Brenau Avenue and Green Street will be partially closed.
Find free and covered parking at any one of the following downtown parking decks, all located within walking distance to the square: Main Street Parking Deck, 301 Main St.; Gainesville North Parking Deck, 100 Brenau Ave.; and Hall County Parking Facility, 225 Green St.
For additional details, "Like" and follow @DowntownGainesvilleGA on Facebook or visit https://www.exploregainesville.org/jingle-mingle/.
