All In A Days Work

Just because it’s a bit cold outside doesn’t mean the fun has to end – there’s till lots of fun to be had across Dublin!

Feast at Ristorante Da Maria
November 18th – 19th
875 James Currie Rd, Dublin, GA

Take a culinary tour of Italy each Friday and Saturday night at Dublin Farm’s Ristorante da Maria in Dublin GA. This five course Italian feast celebrates the finest in regional Italian cuisine with a different offering each evening. $39 per person

Herrin Compound Motorcycle Racing
November 19th – 20th
453 Hillbridge Road, Dublin, GA

Experience a rush as Herrin Compound hosts motorcycle racing November 19th and 20th. Spectators are welcome Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM. Admission is $5 per car with Laurens County plates, $10 for all others, and kids 12 and under are free.

Boggy Branch Christmas Tree Farm
November 24th – December 25th
2130 Hobbs Road, Dexter, GA

Delight in the smells of the holiday season with a fresh and growing Christmas tree from the family owned Boggy Branch Christmas Tree Farm in Dexter, GA. Hand select from Leyland and Murray cypress, Virginia Pine, Eastern Red Cedar, and Spruce trees, and cut it yourself with provided saws beginning Thanksgiving Day through Christmas Day.

Dublin Christkindlmarket
November 26th – December 18th
311 Academy Avenue, Dublin, GA

Delight in a mix of unique gift ideas, old-world charm, and holiday cheer as the Dublin Christkindlmarket brings a taste of Germany to Dublin during weekends in November and December.

Lights on Bellevue
November 26th – December 31st
100 Church Street, Dublin, GA

Light up the Christmas season with visions of sugar plums and gumdrops as Bellevue Avenue in #DublinGA brightens your holiday with over 2 miles of magic during Lights on Bellevue. Beginning November 26th at 6 PM, businesses and residences along Dublin’s premier historic district will flip the switch to dazzle you with a Christmas light display unlike any other!
Over a mile long in each direction, Lights on Bellevue will shine nightly from 6 PM to 9 PM daily from November 26th through December 31st.  Experience the wonder of Dublin’s vast collection of historic homes transformed into a Christmas wonderland. Dubbed Millionaire’s Row by locals, Bellevue Avenue features every architectural style. Imagine the sparkle in children’s eyes seeing their favorite homes festooned in bright holiday gaiety! Bring the whole family out to enjoy this fun, free event!

Shiver Christmas Lights
December 1st – December 31st
212 Flanders Court South, Dublin, GA

Brighten up your holiday nights with a brilliant lights display featuring over 60,000 animated Christmas lights from December 1st through December 31st from sunset until 9:30 PM at Shiver Christmas Lights at 212 Flanders Court South in the Holly Hills subdivision.
Tune your radio on 93.5 and feel the holiday spirit come alive as the lights dance with the music. Admission is free, but please drive slowly and watch out for pets.
Each year, the Shivers set out a donation box, and in the spirit of the holiday, donate the proceeds to a local charity.

Jingle and Mingle in Dublin
December 2nd
306 Academy Avenue, Dublin, GA

Jingle all the way during Jingle & Mingle. Kick off the evening at Dublin’s annual Christmas tree lighting at Founders Park, next to Morris Bank with the tree lighting and live entertainment at 5:30 PM.  The celebration continues into the night with extended shopping hours, children’s activities, caroling, warm drinks, and sweet treats. Welcome Santa Claus at 6:00 PM then watch as the Christmas tree is lit at 6:15 PM.
While strolling the decorated sidewalks in downtown, children and their families will enjoy giving their list to Santa Claus at the historic Fred Roberts building with J. Keyton Salon & Spa, face painting at G Rhythm Performing Arts Center, making reindeer food at The Exchange, and hot chocolate and cookies at Bank of Dudley, among others.

Downtown Dublin Christmas Parade
December 3rd
314 Academy Avenue, Dublin, GA

Kick off the holiday season with The Exchange Club of Dublin’s Christmas Parade. Stretching over a mile through the Bellevue and Downtown Historic Districts, the Christmas Parade adds a touch of wonder and delight!

77th Annual Christmas Tour of Homes
December 4th
306 Academy Avenue, Dublin, GA

Discover a world of architectural magic during Dublin’s Christmas Tour of Homes. Now in its 77th year, this tour flings the front door open wide as Dublin’s architectural delights bedeck themselves in holiday finery.

The Nutcracker
December 11th – 12th
314 Academy Ave. Dublin, GA
Theatre Dublin

Purchase your tickets now for a night of wonderment.  Theatre Dublin’s production of the famed The Nutcracker has it all — a cast of more than 75, glorious sets and costumes, magical special effects, beautiful music, and exceptional dancing by professional and amateur dancers. Don’t miss the hottest holiday ticket in town. Showtimes are Saturday, December 11th at 2 PM and at 7 PM and Sunday, December 12th at 2 PM. Tickets range from $15 to $25. Tickets will be available for sale online beginning November 7th.

This post is sponsored by Dublin Chrysler Dodge Jeep.

This is my favorite time of year – the holidays are here. Turkey and Christmas walks, parades, holiday markets and more! There’s a ton going on in Coffee County Georgia in the next few weeks and we want to make sure you don’t miss out. 

First and foremost the 53rd Annual Festival of Lights Christmas Parade is December 3rd at 6:30 – but that’s not all; there’s tons of fun leading up to the main event:

• November 15th Tree Lighting Ceremony – 6 p.m. at the Coffee County Courthouse
• November 19th Community Thanksgiving Concert & Toy Drive – 4 p.m. Martin Centre & Central Square Complex
• November 20th Holiday Open House – 1 – 5 p.m. Downtown Douglas
• November 26th Shop Local: Small Business Saturday – 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Downtown Douglas
• December 4th Christmas Concert – First Baptist Church
• December 10th Christmas on the Pond – 5 – 9 pm. General Coffee State Park
• December 17th Winter Recital – Expressions Dance Studios
• December 24th Candlelight Service – 6 p.m. First Baptist Church
• December 24th Live Nativity Scene – 6 p.m. First Presbyterian Church

Some other great places you don’t want to miss this holiday season:

Greene Tree Farms – Greene Tree Farms is a multi-generational family business in northern Coffee County. Bring your family to select and cut down your own live Christmas tree.

Branhill Plantation – Branhill Plantation offers group and individual packages for hunters as well as luxury lodging and on-site home cooking!

Southern Home Vintage Market – It’s time to go “junking” and find treasures in Douglas, Ga.! An event that started as a vintage kitchenware sale, has turned into a two-day general vintage and antique sale. Over 50 vendors from the Southeast will be showcasing their vintage and antique merchandise. Collectors will find everything from vintage kitchenware such as Pyrex & FireKing, to painted antique furniture, old doors and windows, vintage costume jewelry, repurposed wood and metals, fine jewelry, old coins, collector pocket knives, primitive antiques, vintage home decor’ and 1950’s-1960’s mid-century modern housewares. In addition, an informational class is scheduled for collecting vintage glasswares, and concessions will be onsite.

If you are looking for a one-day or weekend road trip there’s some other great festivals happening around Georgia – check them out!

34th Annual Kingsland Catfish Festival – November 19th, Downtown Kingsland.
Enjoy this down-home festival with crispy southern-fried catfish and all the fixings sure to please! Festival goers can feast on this and much more during Kingsland, Georgia’s Annual Catfish Festival. The fun begins on Saturday, November 19, 2016, and lasts throughout the day. This event will include a night parade, Pokémon Go Lure Party, a children’s amusement area, 5K run, and live entertainment! This year, we are combining the festival with the ‘Runabout in the Royal District Auto Show’ and there will be many classic beauty’s and modern hot rods to admire! Throw in arts & craft booths, a variety of food booths, antiques and collectibles and there will be something to please everyone in the family!

Ruins to Rapids Full Moon Hike – November 14th, Sweetwater Creek State Park
This 1.5-mile hike is moderately difficult and goes down to the Civil War-era textile mill ruins of New Manchester and follows the lovely rapids (up to class IV) of Sweetwater Creek. A flashlight and sturdy, closed-toe shoes are required. No children under 6 or dogs. Meet inside the Visitor’s Center. Reservations required. Enjoy the Super Moon!

Annual Sugar Cane Festival – November 19th, George L. Smith State Park
Enjoy a fun day in the park with fresh cane syrup, fresh ground corn meal, and a wide variety of food and crafts vendors.

Food Truck Festival – November 20th, Skidaway Island State Park
Hurricane Matthew can’t get the best of Skidaway! Join us and our food truck pals as we celebrate the re-opening of the park. We’ll have music, crafts, a huge scavenger hunt, birding, biking and — of course — yummy food trucks. Bring cash for fast and efficient entry, plus a picnic blanket.

Christmas in the Mountains – December 3rd, Cleveland Courthouse Square
A White County tradition, the Christmas in the Mountains Festival & Lighted Parade kicks off a month of holiday activities and events in White County. It features a holiday market of craft, food and children’s activity vendors. Pictures with Santa are part of the celebration, too! The festival is followed by an exciting parade full of lighted floats presented by the county’s organizations and businesses. The 2016 festival includes a tree lighting with music in Freedom Park, along with a luminary lighting presented by Enotah CASA.

30th Annual Victorian Christmas Festival – December 8th & 9th, Downtown Thomasville
Historic Downtown Thomasville, an award-winning “Great American Main Street City,” invites you to come and make a memory at the 30th Annual Victorian Christmas Festival this year! Take an unforgettable journey back in time to the 1890s when life was simple and true Christmas spirit reigned. Enjoy a Victorian Carousel, horse-drawn carriages, strolling carolers, a Live Nativity, holiday shopping, musicians, museums, food and holiday delicacies, and of course, Santa!
Victorian Christmas is held on Thursday and Friday evening from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Both evenings feature the same great events!

This post brought to you in part by Coffee Chrysler Dodge.