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The brightly decorated gingerbread house on Doyle Street has already drawn the attention of many local youngsters. It will be a focal point of activity during Christmas Fest on Friday.
The buildup to Christmas begins today in Toccoa-Stephens County.
That’s because the Christmas in the Park event at Paul Anderson Memorial Park jump starts the holiday period celebration on Thursday, Dec. 2, with a return after a two-year hiatus.
The Paul Anderson Memorial Park board of directors will hold this annual community event that raises funds for the care and maintenance of the park.
Lunch from the Varsity food truck will be served from 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. and supper will be served from 4-7 p.m.
Tickets are $10 each and may be purchased from any board member or at Rhythm Academy or the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce.
Santa Claus will make an extended visit and there will be a performance of the Company and Kids of Rhythm Dance Academy Company.
Also performing will be the First Baptist Church 4-year old preschoolers, a choral performance by Stephens County Middle School Chorus, and caroling from the Stephens County High School football team and cheerleading squad.
In connection with the Varsity meal, there will also be a raffle for various prizes, including $1,000 from Edward and Paula Schafer.
Other raffle prizes will include a Big Green Egg donated by the Caudell Family, men’s and women’s bicycles donated by 1st Franklin Financial Corporation and Hab-ersham Bicycles, and a 55-inch flat screen television donated by LeCroy Educational Technology.
Guests can also participate in the silent auction which includes various items from local and surrounding businesses and individuals.
After Christmas in the Park on Thursday, the following night will feature Toccoa Main Street’s 14th annual Christmas Fest on Friday, Dec. 3.
Christmas Fest is staged from 6-9 p.m. Friday and continues Saturday.
The lighting of the city Christmas tree by Mayor Evan Hellenga will open the festival at 6 p.m.
The lighting of the Courthouse Wonderland on the lawn of the historic Stephens County Courthouse will take place at the same time.
At 7 p.m., the popular band, Tugaloo, Holler will perform Christmas bluegrass music until 9 p.m.
A carriage will take you through the town’s historic district to see the beautifully lit streets.
The carriage rides are $1 for children and $3 per adult and begin on Doyle Street near The Toccoa Record.
A live nativity allows children to enter the manger, pet the animals and experience what it may have been like on the first Christmas.
Santa drops in for a visit and pictures on Doyle Street and personally collects letters from excited children.
Santa’s Express Train will take the riders around the town. Fees are $1 for children and $3 for adults.
The Polar Express Train will take its riders around the entire festival starting at the corner of Doyle Street and Pond Street.
First Alliance Church of Toccoa will sponsor a live nativity including a camel and other line animals.
Other sights will include the train at BEN Park across from Troup’s Studio and Gifts and the gingerbread house on Doyle Street near the steps to the historic courthouse.
Santa will visit the Toy Shop on Alexander Street and will be available to discuss Christmas wishes with children.
Other Christmas Fest activities will include the Christmas Sage Market and the Festival of Trees, both of which will be located at 26 Doyle Street.
The Festival of Trees is celebrated every Christmas Fest.
Visitors are asked to vote for their favorite from an assortment of beautifully decorated trees.
Admission is free but it is $1 per vote.
Proceeds from the contest will go to the charity or nonprofit organization represented.
The winning tree will receive a grand prize of $500 sponsored by local businesses.
A quartet of Victorian era carolers from Toccoa Presbyterian Church will stroll through the streets singing.
Toccoa on Ice will provide an opportunity for festival-goers to try out ice skating.
The fee is $5 per person and the skating surface will be located on Tugalo Street.
The highlight of Saturday, Dec. 4 will be the 2021 Toccoa Christmas Parade.
Grand marshal for this year’s parade is paralympic gold medalist McKenzie Coan.
The parade is sponsored by the Toccoa-Stephens County Professional Women and the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce.
The parade will start in downtown at 10 a.m.
Closing out the four-day Christmas kickoff will be the Toccoa Symphony Orchestra performing it’s Christmas Concert, along with an art show and sale,.
The event will take place on Sunday, Dec. 5 at the Alford Grace Performing Arts Center on the campus of Toccoa Falls College.
The concert, entitled A Christmas Festival of Music & Art, is the first concert of the 2021-2022 concert season.
The concert is presented by 1st Franklin Financial.
The festivities kick off at 2 p.m. with the art show and sale hosted by members of the Currahee Artists’ Guild.
Meet talented artists while shopping for a special gift for everyone on your list.
Pottery, paintings, photography, fine craft and more will be featured. Holiday refreshments will be served.
At 4 p.m., the orchestra, led by conductor William David Stufft, will take the stage.
The orchestra will perform White Christmas, Let it Snow, The First Noel from the movie The Savior, Sleigh Ride and more.
Yurii Henriques, assistant professor of music education at Toccoa Falls College, will serve as a guest conductor for the piece Fantasia on We Three Kings.
And, in keeping with the long-running TSO trad-ition, the audience is invited to sing-along with the orchestra as they perform well known Christmas carols.
The much-anticipated highlight of the evening is the performance of the Toccoa Community Choir led by Dr. Thomas Council, dean of professional studies and professor of choral music.
The 75--member choir will fill the concert hall with sounds of the season singing The Christmas Song, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, One Small Child, O Come All Ye Faithful and other favorite Christmas songs.
For the finale, the audience is invited to join the orchestra and choir on stage to sing the ultimate Christmas song, Hallelujah.
Tickets for the A Christmas Festival of Music & Art for adults are $7 in advance and $10 at the door.
Children and students are $3 in advance and $5 at the door.
Advance tickets are available at the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce Welcome Center, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Or, tickets can be purchased online at www.toccoasymphony.org.
Members of the Toccoa Symphony Orchestra are admitted free as a benefit of their membership.
Visit toccoasymphony.org for details as to how to become a member and support the ongoing viability of the TSO.
The Toccoa Symphony Orchestra is a full- sized orchestra of 50-60 talented musicians led by conductor William David Stufft.