Busy Holiday Weekend Coming Up in Toccoa

A busy weekend of Christmas activities is set for downtown Toccoa this weekend.

It starts tonight with Christmas Fest in downtown Toccoa.

That runs from 5 to 8 p.m.

Main Street Toccoa Events Coordinator Sharon Crosby said that there will be activities, entertainment, shopping, and more for people to enjoy.

“We will have carriage rides, Santa’s express train, and a live nativity,” said Crosby.

Entertainment begins at 5:30 p.m. at the intersection of Pond and Doyle streets.

A number of downtown shops and restaurants will be open and there will be a Christmas Sage Market in the Studio and Frame Shop on Doyle Street.

Of course, Santa will be on hand as well and downtown Toccoa will also host the Festival of Trees.

Crosby said people can see the trees from 5 to 8 p.m. tonight in the historic courthouse.

“We have 11 beautiful trees that different businesses and organizations have sponsored,” said Crosby. “We are excited about all of the different charities represented.”

People vote for their favorite tree by giving a dollar and all of the money raised goes to the charity for that particular tree.

Then at 8 p.m., Christmas Fest will conclude with the lighting of the city Christmas tree at Pond and Doyle.

Crosby said they are looking forward to a fun night.

“There is a lot going on and we are really excited about it,” said Crosby.

The Festival of Trees will re-open in the historic courthouse in downtown Toccoa from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday and the Christmas Sage Market will re-open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Saturday at 4 p.m., the annual Toccoa Christmas Parade will kick off.

Toccoa Woman’s Club President Bonnie Sparks said the theme this year is “Christmas Miracles” and the grand marshals are retired veterans Joe Pouge, Otha Murray, and Chanda Elkins.

Line-up for the parade begins at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and will follow the same route, dismantling at Boyd Field.

Numbers for the parade can be picked up this morning from 9 to 11 at the Headquarters Salon on Currahee Street or Saturday in front of Regions Bank.

Also, the Woman’s Club is asking parents and children not to get close to the vehicles to retrieve candy.

In case of rain, the Woman’s Club will not make any announcement regarding the parade through us at WNEG Radio until 1:45 p.m. Saturday and if cancelled, it would be re-scheduled to Sunday at 3 p.m.