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.
