Plenty of Christmas activities are planned across the area

As the Christmas season rolls around, holiday related events fill area calendars.

Some cities, like Braselton and Dawsonville, already held their Christmas parade, while for others this weekend starts the seasonal festivities.

• Thursday, Nov. 24 to Saturday, Dec. 31 – 6 to 11 p.m. – Cornelia Christmas Lights Spectacular at Cornelia City Park, 601 Wyly Street, Cornelia, is a free, drive-through holiday light display.
• Friday, Nov. 25 – 5 to 7 p.m. – Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive at Helen Riverside Park as the Alpine Village is lighted to begin the holiday season. Musical performances by local groups will precede his arrival. Riverside Park is located at 1074 Edelweiss Strasse, Helen. Details: (706) 878-2181.
• Friday, Nov. 25 – 6 to 8 p.m. – The City of Statham invites everyone to the annual tree lighting at 337 Jefferson St., Statham featuring photos with Santa, character meet and greet, airbrush tattoos, hot cocoa, music and the tree lighting. All activities are free.
• Saturday, Nov. 26 – 5 to 6 p.m. – The Town of Bowersville invites everyone to come out for its Christmas tree lighting, pictures with Santa, and to pick up reindeer food for Christmas Eve.
• Saturday, Nov. 26 – 5:30 p.m. – Clermont Christmas Parade and tree lighting begins at 5:30 on Main Street.
• Saturday, Nov. 26 – noon to 1 p.m. – 15^th-annual Blue Ridge Tuba Christmas at the Blue Ridge Depot on Depot Street.
• Saturday, Nov. 26 – 5:30 to 7 p.m. – Blue Ridge Christmas Parade starts at 5:30 p.m. and runs down East Main Street from Church to Mountain, down Mountain, and back up West Main to Depot. Lighting of the Great Tree will immediately follow the parade at approximately 7 p.m. The event happens rain, snow or shine.
• Thursday, Dec. 1 – 4 to 8 p.m. – Cookies, Milk and Holiday Fun with Santa at the Gainesville Civic Center is a free event that will feature cookies, milk, and a free professional photo opportunity with Santa.
• Thursday, Dec. 1 – 6 p.m. – Alto Christmas tree lighting event at Alto Town Hall, 186 Wade St., Alto.
• Thursday, Dec. 1 – 6:30 p.m. – Annual lighting of the tree in downtown Demorest.
• Thursday, Dec. 1 – 6 p.m. – 13^th-annual City of Franklin Springs Christmas tree lighting featuring pictures with Santa, horse-drawn carriage rides, crafts, roasting marshmallows, Christmas caroling, and lighting of the tree. Those who bring a new, unopened toy, non-perishable canned goods, and/or monetary donations that night will be entered to win a prize. The collections will benefit Toys for Tots and Rainbow Pantry.
• Thursday, Dec. 1 – 7:30 p.m. – The Northwinds Symphonic Band presents “Christmas with Northwinds” in the Gainesville First Baptist Church Banquet Hall, 751 Green St. NW, Gainesville. The free concert will feature favorite holiday music with guest soloists and a special percussion feature.
• Friday, Dec. 2 – 5 p.m. – Christmas Fest will bring a Christmas wonderland to downtown Toccoa and will feature visits with Santa, carriage rides, small train rides, food trucks, and a live Nativity. Lighting of the city Christmas tree will occur at 6 p.m.
• Friday, Dec. 2 – 5:30 p.m. – A Downtown Clarkesville Christmas will feature Santa photos, a Cookie Crawl, marshmallow roasting and more in downtown Clarkesville.
• Friday, Dec. 2 – 5:30 to 7 p.m. – Join the Habersham County 4-H Club at the Habersham County Extension Office and visit the Grinch and see the village of gingerbread houses. The event is a stop on the Clarkesville Cookie Crawl and is located at 555 Monroe St., Clarkesville.
• Friday, Dec. 2 – Christmas Potluck and tree lighting celebration in Tallulah Falls.
• Friday, Dec. 2 – 8 to 9 p.m. – ChristmasFest in Toccoa 6t
• Saturday, Dec. 3 – 8 to 10 a.m. – Breakfast with Santa will be held at R-Ranch in the Mountains, where children under 12 eat free and adults can eat for $5 per person. Children can take home an ornament from Santa and have their photo taken with him. All proceeds benefit the Lumpkin County Sheriff’s Office Shop with a Cop.
• Saturday, Dec. 3 – 10 a.m. – The “Parade of Trees” Toccoa Christmas Parade, sponsored by the Professional Women of Toccoa-Stephens County and the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce
• Saturday, Dec. 3 – 10 a.m. – Main Street Jefferson invites everyone to Christmas in Jefferson and the “Through the Eyes of Children” Christmas parade. A VW bus carrying presents will be available for photos on the South Square from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. At 10 a.m. the Fort Yargo Community Concert Band will play near the Crawford W. Long Museum downtown. The parade will begin at 11 a.m. The Fiddlin’ Around Band will play near Swirlee’s from 12:30 to 2:30, and the kiddy ChooChoo train will operate from 12:30 to 3 p.m.
• Saturday, Dec. 3 – 10 to 11:30 a.m. – Donuts (and Pictures) with Santa will be held at the Commerce Civic Center in downtown Commerce, sponsored by the Four Seasons Garden Club. Donuts and juice are $2, and a photographer will be available for pictures for $5. Details: (706) 335-3189.
• Saturday, Dec. 3 – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. –  It’s a Homer-ville Christmas – The Town of Homer invites everyone to celebrate the Grinch and a Homerville Christmas with a parade starting at 10 a.m., followed by photos with Santa, food and craft vendors, live entertainment, inflatables, character visits and more on Historic Homer Highway in downtown Homer. For vendor and parade entry forms, email [email protected] or [email protected], or call (706) 677-3510.
• Saturday, Dec. 3 – 11 a.m. – City of Canon Christmas Parade begins at 11 from the 10 a.m. lineup on Depot Street.
• Saturday, Dec. 3 – 1 to 3 p.m. – Christmas at the Gorge at Tallulah Gorge State Park in Tallulah Falls invites families to come see Santa, make crafts, enjoy live Christmas music and have hot cocoa at the Jane Hurt Yarn Interpretive Center in the park, Bring a camera for photos with Santa. $5 parking fee. Details: (706) 754-7951.
• Saturday, Dec. 3 – 2 p.m. – The 2022 Rabun County Christmas Parade presented by Forward Rabun and the Rabun County Chamber of Commerce will make its way along Main Street.
• Saturday, Dec. 3 – 2 to 5 p.m. – Light Up Hiawassee on the Hiawassee Town Square will feature face painting, Christmas music, cookie decorating, letters to Santa, hot chocolate, S’mores, ornament decorating, and Santa.
• Saturday, Dec. 3 – 3 to 5 p.m. – Commerce Main Street invites everyone to come downtown and shop, where there will also be pop-up shops and fun in Spencer Park. The day will end with the lighting of the city Christmas tree and there will be special musical guests.
• Saturday, Dec. 3 – 4 to 8 p.m. – Christmas in Lula at the Lula Train Depot is sponsored by the City of Lula and the Lula Belton Historical Society and features a parade and tables by local organizations. The parade will begin at 6 p.m. and travel down Main Street.
• Saturday, Dec. 3 – 5 p.m. – Cumming Christmas parade will leave from Forsyth Central High School, rain or shine.
• Saturday, Dec. 3 – 5 p.m. – Forever Reign Ministry will present Christmas Carols and a Christmas Message at the Winder Gazebo in downtown Winder.
• Saturday, Dec. 3 – 5 to 8 p.m. – White County Chamber of Commerce Christmas in the Mountains presented by the City of Cleveland will feature a festival on the square from 5 to 8, tree lighting at 6 and lighted parade with 50 floats at 7.
• Saturday, Dec. 3 – 5 to 8 p.m. – The City of Statham invites everyone to bring an unwrapped toy or donation to American Legion Post 163, 1633 Atlanta Hwy. SE, Statham, and enjoy Pizza with Santa. All toys will be given to children in Barrow County.
• Saturday, Dec. 3 – 5:30 p.m. – Towns County Sheriff’s Christmas Parade in Hiawassee.
• Saturday, Dec. 3 – 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. – Christmas in Gillsville will be a free event in downtown Gillsville that will feature Santa and children’s activities.
• Saturday, Dec. 3 – 6 p.m. – Union County Historical Society presents the “Ringing in the Holidays” Christmas parade in Blairsville.
• Sunday, Dec. 4 – 2 to 7 p.m. – Christmas on Green Street in Gainesville features Christmas at the Civic Center from 2 to 7 p.m., a movie at the Civic Center beginning at 2 p.m., Food trucks from 3 to 7 p.m., the Christmas parade at 3 p.m. and the Rotary tree lighting from 6:15 to 6:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Dec. 4 – 3 p.m. – The traditional Lavonia Christmas parade, sponsored by the Lavonia Downtown Development Authority and Welcome Center, will run down Highway 17 from Dill’s Food City to the downtown square, ending at the Silo Shopping Center. Details: (706) 356-1926 or (706) 356-5725. After the parade, Santa Claus will be available for free photos at Lavonia United Methodist Church, where there also will be hot chocolate and sweets.
• Sunday, Dec. 4 – 3 to 4 p.m. – Commerce Main Street invites everyone to come out for its ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas parade
• Saturday, Dec. 4 – 4 p.m. – Elbert County Chamber of Commerce hosts “Candy Cane Lane”, the Elberton Christmas parade at 4 p.m. The chamber is accepting boxed candy cane donations or extra funds to purchase candy canes.
• Sunday, Dec. 4 – 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. – Christmas in Gillsville will be a free event in downtown Gillsville that will feature Santa and children’s activities.
• Tuesday, Dec. 6 – 6:30 p.m. – Habersham County Christmas Parade “Angels Among Us” hosted by the City of Baldwin and Baldwin Events Committee on Willingham Avenue. Parade lines up at 5:30 p.m. at Fieldale Farms on Broiler Boulevard and ends at Baldwin Downtown Park, followed by a special dedication at the park.
• Thursday, Dec. 8 – 6:30 p.m. – Christmas in Mt. Airy featuring visits with Santa, refreshments, and a tree lighting ceremony at Mt. Airy Town Hall on Dicks Hill Parkway.
• Thursday, Dec. 8 – 7:30 p.m. – First Baptist Gainesville Living Christmas Tree is a free ticketed show at First Baptist Church, 751 Green St. NW, Gainesville. Free tickets are available at https://www.fbc.gainesville.org/event/living-Christmas-tree or by calling the church office at (770) 534-7354.
• Friday, Dec. 9 – 7:30 p.m. – The University of North Georgia Music Department will present its fifth-annual Holiday Choral Festival “To Make Music in the Heart” at Grace Episcopal Church, 422 Brenau Ave., Gainesville, featuring the UNG Chorale, UNG Singers, Le Belle Voci, Patriot Choir, and students from the UNG chamber and instrumental ensembles. Admission is free.
• Friday, Dec. 9 – 7:30 p.m. -- First Baptist Gainesville Living Christmas Tree is a free ticketed show at First Baptist Church, 751 Green St. NW, Gainesville. Free tickets are available at https://www.fbc.gainesville.org/event/living-Christmas-tree or by calling the church office at (770) 534-7354.
• Saturday, Dec. 10 – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Friends of Traveler’s Rest State Historic Site invite everyone to enjoy “Christmas at the Inn”, featuring festive dulcimer music and hot apple cider with teacakes during a historic Christmas celebration at the 19^th-century stagecoach inn at 4339 Riverdale Road, Toccoa. Details: (706) 886-2256.
• Saturday, Dec. 10 – 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. – Second-annual A Very Clermont Christmas at the Clermont Chattahoochee Center 639 Main St., Clermont. The small business shopping bazaar will feature nearly 20 handcrafters and local businesses.
• Saturday, Dec. 10 – 11 a.m. – The 2022 Dahlonega Christmas parade through downtown with feature Grand Marshal Dr. Bonita Jacobs, president of the University of North Georgia. Road closures begin 30 minutes prior to the parade start. Details: dahlonegaChristmas.com.
• Saturday, Dec. 10 – 1 to 8 p.m. – Maysville Christmas in the Park at Maysville City Park on Homer Street in Maysville will feature pictures with Santa, caroling by local choirs, food and craft vendors, inflatables and more. The event is sponsored by the Maysville Downtown Development Authority, Maysville Public Library, and The Maysville Community Club. Details: (404) 281-4928.
• Saturday, Dec. 10 – 2 p.m. – The annual Alpine Helen Christmas Parade will feature fire trucks, floats, horses and more. Details: (706) 878-2181.
• Saturday, Dec. 10 – 2 p.m. – The City of Winder is celebrating Christmas with its 74^th-annual Christmas parade featuring “Deck the Paws”. The pet parade is described as a pre-game show to the main event. After the parade, gather in Jug Tavern Park for Santa’s After Party featuring pictures with Santa, S’mores, food trucks, a holiday market, and a Christmas DJ.
• Saturday, Dec. 10 – 3 to 7 p.m. – Friends of Victoria Bryant State Park in Royston invite everyone to the park’s first Christmas event as Christmas Comes to Victoria Bryant bringing pictures with Santa Claus, a bonfire with S’mores and hot cocoa, Christmas crafts and an outside Christmas movie if weather permits. There also will be caroling hayrides available for $2 per person. A $5 parking pass is required, and Friends officials note this is a walk-to event from designated parking inside the park.
• Saturday, Dec. 10 – 4 to 9 p.m. – Christmas in Cornelia in downtown Cornelia will feature a holiday market, live entertainment in Fenders Alley, free photos with Santa, S’mores and hot cocoa, hayrides through the Christmas Lights Spectacular, free photos with the Grinch, facepainting and children’s activities. Follow @CorneliaMainSt on Facebook and Instagram for up-to-date information.
• Saturday, Dec. 10 – 4:30 p.m. – First Baptist Gainesville Living Christmas Tree is a free ticketed show at First Baptist Church, 751 Green St. NW, Gainesville. Free tickets are available at https://www.fbc.gainesville.org/event/living-Christmas-tree or by calling the church office at (770) 534-7354.
• Saturday, Dec. 10 – 5:30 to 7:30 – Statham Church will present “Walk Through Bethlehem”, immersing visitors in the sights, sounds and smells of an ancient city as they make their way to find Jesus lying in a manager. The event is outside if weather permits. The church is located at 1914 Broad St., Statham. Details: (770) 725-7067 or www.statham.church.
• Saturday, Dec. 10 – 6 to 8 p.m. – Celebration Church in Hoschton will present its “O Night Divine Live Nativity” featuring a live Nativity cast, animals, children’s Christmas chorus, snacks and more. The event is free, but hot chocolate and Christmas treats will be available for purchase as part of a youth fundraiser. Celebration Church is located at 5560 Thompson Mill Road, Hoschton. Details: celebrationfamily.com/nativity.
• Sunday, Dec. 11 – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Friends of Traveler’s Rest State Historic Site invite everyone to enjoy “Christmas at the Inn”, featuring festive dulcimer music and hot apple cider with teacakes during a historic Christmas celebration at the 19^th-century stagecoach inn at 4339 Riverdale Road, Toccoa. Details: (706) 886-2256.
• Sunday, Dec. 11 – 4 p.m. – First Baptist Gainesville Living Christmas Tree is a free ticketed show at First Baptist Church, 751 Green St. NW, Gainesville. Free tickets are available at https://www.fbc.gainesville.org/event/living-Christmas-tree or by calling the church office at (770) 534-7354.
• Sunday, Dec. 11 – 4 p.m. – Hart County Chamber of Commerce hosts “Gingerbread Lane”, the 2022 Hartwell Christmas parade.
• Sunday, Dec. 11 – 5 p.m. – Christmas Blessings at Gillsville Baptist Church is a Christmas presentation in the sanctuary, 2595 Highway 323, Gillsville. Children present who attend the presentation will receive a gift card, toy and more. Food boxes will be available. (770) 869-3976.
• Sunday, Dec. 11 – 6:30 p.m. – First Baptist Gainesville Living Christmas Tree is a free ticketed show at First Baptist Church, 751 Green St. NW, Gainesville. Free tickets are available at https://www.fbc.gainesville.org/event/living-Christmas-tree or by calling the church office at (770) 534-7354.
• Friday, Dec. 16 – 7 p.m. – Free Chapel in Gainesville will present “Christmas Spectacular”, a live production including Christmas musical favorites, lives animals, and visual effects to bring the story of Jesus to life. The free event will offer childcare for newborns to age 5. The church is located at 3001 McEver Road, Gainesville.
• Saturday, Dec. 17 – 9:30 a.m. – Georgia Mountains YMCA will host a free Cookies and Cocoa event where children can decorate cookies in Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen, make ornaments in Santa’s Workshop and take pictures with Santa. The free event is located at the Georgia Mountains YMCA, 2455 YMCA Drive, Gainesville. Details: [email protected].
• Saturday, Dec. 17 – noon, 3 and 6 p.m. – Free Chapel in Gainesville will present “Christmas Spectacular”, a live production including Christmas musical favorites, lives animals, and visual effects to bring the story of Jesus to life. The free event will offer childcare for newborns to age 5. The church is located at 3001 McEver Road, Gainesville.
• Saturday, Dec. 17 – 6:30 to 9 p.m. – Ice Cream with Santa at the Lodge, Hudson Lodge No. 294 Freemasons, 1364 Hospital Road, Commerce, is an annual free community event that welcomes everyone to an ice cream social at 6:30 p.m., followed by Santa’s arrival about 7:30. Parents are invited to bring a camera to take photos with Santa. The event is free, but donations to the Lodge’s Christmas Charities program are welcome and appreciated.
• Sunday, Dec. 18 – 9 and 11 a.m. -- Free Chapel in Gainesville will present “Christmas Spectacular”, a live production including Christmas musical favorites, lives animals, and visual effects to bring the story of Jesus to life. The free event will offer childcare for newborns to age 5. The church is located at 3001 McEver Road, Gainesville.
• Sunday, Dec. 18 – 1 to 4 p.m. – Northeast Georgia History Center in Gainesville invites families and folks to its free Family Day: Appalachian Christmas. Those attending can get a free picture with Santa, learn about the history of Christmas traditions, create Christmas crafts, participate in an 1800s dance lesson, taste Appalachian apple cake, string popcorn for the Christmas tree and more. The History Center is located at 322 Academy St. NE, Gainesville.
• Sunday, Dec. 18 – 6 p.m. -- Free Chapel in Gainesville will present “Christmas Spectacular”, a live production including Christmas musical favorites, lives animals, and visual effects to bring the story of Jesus to life. The free event will offer childcare for newborns to age 5. The church is located at 3001 McEver Road, Gainesville.
• Monday, Dec. 19 – 6 to 8 p.m. – Candlelight Christmas Walk and Caroling in Clarkesville, beginning at The Norton Agency on Washington Street.

Christmas activities have begun filling the area, such as the annual Lighting of the Village in Helen, shown from a previous year.

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