The Christmas trees are up in the towns and cities of Fayette County and they will each be lit at fun-filled events this weekend.
The town of Tyrone has been busy with plans for their annual Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration. The celebration will include local schools groups such as Tyrone Tempos, Burch Elementary and the Flat Rock Middle School Chorus and Band to perform festive Christmas music to get you in the holiday spirit.
The Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration will be held on Friday, Dec. 3 at Shamrock Park in downtown Tyrone off of Senoia Rd. Activities will run from 6-9 p.m. Special guests will be arriving along with Santa Claus and his Elves sponsored by Tyrone Depot. This community event will be accompanied with free horse sleigh rides around the lake and free hot chocolate and cookies provided by The Fayette Day Break Rotary Club.
For more information please visit their web site at www.tyrone.org or contact their Recreation Department at 770-487-4694.
Fayetteville Main Street officially marks the beginning of the Main Street holiday season with the return of the Downtown Christmas Parade and the 18th Annual Tree Lighting. The public is invited to gather downtown for a fun celebration that concludes with complimentary carriage rides with Santa beginning at 7 pm. The parade starts promptly at 4:30 p.m. and will ride through the downtown square. Across the street at the Gazebo, Big Daddy’s Hot Dogs will be serving hamburgers and hot dogs at an affordable price for the spectators before, during and after the parade. Beginning at 6 p.m., Heritage Christian Church’s Dickens Village characters will serve free hot chocolate. Blue Donkey Coffee will be offering free samples of their coffee, which can also be purchased from them that night for a great Christmas gift. Aaron Rents will also be serving up free popcorn.
Entertainment at the tree will also begin at 6 p.m. and will feature Jason Bowen, a local recording artist, producer and songwriter who has toured with Barry Manilow and written or produced hit songs in several genres including rock, country and gospel. Also included in this year’s line-up are performances by the Heritage ensemble, as well as other local talent throughout the evening.
This year’s honored guest performing the actual “lighting” of the tree will be Matthew Stoehr from the Joseph Sams School. The Joseph Sams School, staff and children will be performing immediately following the lighting of the tree.
Peachtree City will hold their Hometown Holiday celebration on Saturday evening as well. The event will be full of entertainment for all ages. Festivities will begin with the Candy Cane Hunt at 5:15 pm on Shakerag Knoll, located on McIntosh Trail in Peachtree City. Hometown Holiday continues at 6 p.m. with a musical program at ‘The Fred’, sponsored by Sam’s Club. The evening concludes with the Lighting of the Grand Christmas Tree between 7:30 and 7:45 p.m. at City Hall located on Highway 54.
The Candy Cane Hunt is open to children ages 2 to 10. They are invited to find the candy canes “hidden” on Shakerag Knoll. There will be separate age groups for the children: 2-4, 5-7, and 8-10. Those arriving via golf carts will be directed to a designated parking area at Shakerag so that they will have easier access to the Trail of Lights following the concert at The Fred.
Following the Candy Cane hunt, stroll over to the Frederick Brown Jr. ‘The Fred’ Amphitheater for a musical celebration of the holiday, presented by Sam’s Club. The program begins at 6 p.m. featuring performances by the Peachtree Wind Ensemble, Peachtree City School of Dance and local singer-songwriter Paige McCauley. The family can join in the fun by singing favorite carols, and possibly get a glimpse of the big man himself, Santa Claus.
Those attending the event are encouraged to get in the true spirit of the season with two great ways to give back during the evening’s festivities. The Fred will be collecting new toys for the Toys for Tots campaign during the holiday season, and a collection bin will be on-site at the entrance that evening. Also, purchase a cup of Starbucks coffee or hot cocoa at the Fred for $1 and proceeds will be used to purchase coffee for the U.S. troops stationed overseas.
At 7 p.m., join Santa as he leads the golf cart Trail of Lights procession from the Fred parking lot, along Lake Peachtree. The festivities culminate at City Hall for the lighting of the Grand Christmas Tree, and children can visit with Santa Claus. The Peachtree City Youth Council will also be on hand with hot cocoa and other treats available for purchase. The events at City Hall will begin once the golf cart procession arrives.
Hometown Holiday is an event presented in combination with the Peachtree City Parks & Recreation Department and the Frederick Brown Jr., Amphitheater. For more information about the evenings events please visit the city website at www.peachtree-city.org, or www.amphitheater.org. Or, call The Fred at 770-631-0630, or the Recreation Department at 770-631-2542.
The town of Brooks will host Christmas in the country on Sunday, Dec. 5. Festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. with the lighting of the town Christmas tree. Enjoy hot chocolate and cookies as Santa arrives in Brooks. Sing along with the Brooks Elementary School Chorus as they perform favorite some of their favorite Christmas songs. The event is sponsored by the Brooks Woman’s Club, Brooks Community Club and the town of Brooks. For more information, call 770-719-3194.
