Celebrate a southern holiday event around the South
Submitted by Cheryl Eldridge
It’s the most wonderful time of the year – the Christmas season in the South! There’s nothing like coming home for the holidays, and if you’re looking for family festivities guaranteed to warm your spirit like cold hands around a mug of hot chocolate, these communities all across the South can deliver on all of your Christmas wishes.
Thoroughbred Country, South Carolina
The towns of western South Carolina know how to celebrate the holidays in style. Join residents and visitors to Barnwell for the annual Christmas by Candlelight and community tree lighting on December 4. After the tree is lit, shops will stay open late to provide refreshments, prize drawings, and special holiday discounts.
Aiken lights its community Christmas tree on Friday, December 5, amid craft shows, Nights of 1000 Lights festivities, and A Holly Day in Downtown. Visitors can also enjoy a performance of “It’s A Wonderful Life” at the Aiken Community Playhouse and a special presentation called “‘Tis the Season,” which traces the origins of some of the
world’s most treasured holiday traditions.
Augusta, Georgia
From South Carolina’s Thoroughbred Country, take a quick hop across the Savannah River to discover the wonder and merriment of Christmas in Augusta, Ga. Local and regional artists will be creating a holiday gingerbread village at the Augusta Museum of History to be displayed from November 20th through the 30th. Share the season with the birds by making decorations for them to nibble on all through winter at the Living History Park’s Christmas for the Birds, and don’t miss the holiday classic “A Christmas Carol” performed live on stage at the historic Imperial Theatre.
Albany, Georgia
Nothing says, “ho, ho, ho” like Christmas lights and you won’t want to miss the 24th Annual Celebration of Lights Christmas Parade, December 6 in Albany, complete with with marching bands, floats, many other entrants, and special appearance by Santa Claus. Afterwards, consider starting a new family tradition with a car ride or magical train ride on the Wiregrass Express through Chehaw’s Festival of Lights.
Blue Ridge, Georgia
Beginning in Georgia’s beautiful Blue Ridge, enjoy an entire weekend of holiday cheer at the Mountain Wine Country Holiday Highway. The three-day excursion winds through 14 different mountain wineries for a unique holiday experience. While you’re in Blue Ridge, don’t miss out on the chance to take the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway’s Santa Express or Night Train to Santa’s Pavilion.
Alpine Helen, Georgia
Not far from Blue Ridge is a Bavarian village nestled in the Georgia mountains, known as Alpine Helen. See the village lit up for the holiday season and welcome Santa’s
arrival in town on the day after Thanksgiving. November 28 will also mark the kick-off to Helen’s traditional Christkindlmarkit. This annual German event takes place in Downtown Helen Nov.28-30 and Dec.6-7 in the Marketplatz area. Booths are set up offering everything from unique gifts and decorations to an assortment of savory sweet foods, drinks and treats.
The Helen Arts and Heritage Center is proud to be hosting a historical look at the traditions of an old south Appalachian Christmas on December 9, and just outside of the Alpine Village, Helen’s Unicoi State Park and Lodge will be celebrating the season with their annual Festival of Trees, a fundraiser for the United Way of White County where visitors can bid on the numerous trees and wreaths decorating every corner of the Lodge.
Macon, Georgia
Macon’s College Hill Corridor, the two-square mile area of town surrounding Mercer University, comes alive at Christmas time with its Christmas in the Corridor event, featuring guaranteed snow (in a part of the state that rarely has snow before New Years) and a snow slide, carriage rides, carolers, and holiday revelry. New to the Corridor this year will be the Macon Made gift tent, a pop-up market featuring wares made by 12 local artisans.
Oxford, Mississippi
If you’re in the vicinity of Oxford, Mississippi, best known for being the home of Ole Miss, you can catch their annual Christmas parade at the Courthouse Square on the first day of December. And for culture-minded music fans, the Mediaeval Baebes will light up your holidays with their interpretations of timeless holiday classics in an impressive array of languages.
Vermilion Parish, Louisiana
There’s no experience like a Cajun Christmas, and Vermilion Parish, Louisiana, is the most Cajun place on Earth! Enjoy a Christmas stroll with the family in Abbeville, with shopping, dining, visiting with Santa Claus, prize drawings and light displays. No one does a Christmas parade like Delcambre: for a unique experience, you can’t miss their Christmas boat parade. During the daylight, kids can have a blast at a special kids’ carnival and dine on pancakes with Santa before the night-time lighted boat show and fireworks spectacular begin.
