There is

probably no other time that feels as Christmasy, as the

week after Thanksgiving, barring the Christmas holiday

itself.

People have

begun their Christmas shopping, Christmas tree farms have

opened for business, and the holiday shows and

presentations have begun in every community. There are

plenty of things to do this weekend to get you in the

holiday spirit.

On Friday

and Saturday, Dec. 3 and 4, Georgia Youth Ballet presents

"The Nutcracker" at Sams Auditorium. "The

Nutcracker" is the tale of a little girl's Christmas

fantasies come alive. The music is enchanting and

familiar, the costumes and scenery are lavish and ornate,

and the dancers bring the timeless classic to life with

an equal mix of comedy and drama.

"The

Nutcracker will be performed at 8 p.m. Friday, at 2:30

and 8 p.m. Saturday and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Admission is

$5. If you have never seen "The Nutcracker,"

this is an excellent opportunity that is both close to

home and affordable for the entire family. Call

770-716-9858 for information.

Performances

of "A Christmas Carol" at Newnan Community

Theater also begin Dec. 3. "A Christmas Carol"

is the famous story of a miserly old man's spiritual

reawakening. Ebeneezer Scrooge is visited by three ghosts

one Christmas Eve and by morning he has learned the error

of his ways. Newnan Community Theater's production boasts

a cast of thousands and unlike the group's first

performance of the play 15 years ago, heat.

This will

be the first program in Newnan Community Theater's new

complex, which is directly across the street from its old

complex, the Manget Brannon Center for the Arts on First

Street in Newnan. The show will run Fridays, Saturdays

and Sundays Dec. 3 - 19, at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays

and at 2:30 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $5. Call

770-683-NCTC.

Let's not

forget the simple holiday pleasures, though, as there

will be two Christmas tree lightings and, of course,

Santa's Parade. Santa's Parade in Fayetteville begins at

4 p.m. Santa takes a sleigh and the role of grand marshal

as he coasts around the town spreading pre-Christmas day

cheer.

The parade

will start on Lafayette Avenue heading east. Parade

spectators are invited to line the downtown streets of

Lafayette Avenue, Ga. Highway 85 south, and Lanier

Avenue.

The parade

will be followed by the lighting of the Christmas tree.

There will be free carriage rides with Santa offered for

a short period of time following the parade.

Santa will

then hightail it over to Peachtree City for their tree

lighting ceremony and choral concert. The festivities

begin at 6 p.m., with appearances from Santa and several

local choruses. The tree will be lit at approximately

7:30 p.m and Toys for Tots will be collected during the

festivities.

With each

passing day, the holiday will get closer and your spirit

will become infected more and more. You will find

cravings for egg nog, or drives around local

neighborhoods looking at all of the different lighting

displays. It was once coined in a song, and it can sound

a bit corny, but it truly is "the most wonderful

time of the year."

<!--##############