Christmas Fest 2017 huge turnout

Christmas Fest 2017 draws crowd this past weekend.

The festivities began Friday evening and continued through Saturday.

Several residents of Stephens and surrounding counties attending the event, all spoke highly of the efforts that both the County and the city of Toccoa put into the festival this year.

The streets along downtown Toccoa were all lit up with Christmas lights strung around each tree, local storefronts were decorated with Christmas cheer, and hundreds gathered in fellowship to witness the beauty of Christmas in Downtown Toccoa.

Maxine Felts, of Toccoa, told WNEG News about her experience at Christmas Fest Friday night.

“I really enjoy the music they added, and its all so beautiful.”

Felts added that she really enjoyed the festival of trees held in the Historic Courthouse, saying that the trees were all very beautiful and that she wished there were more.

Toccoa Falls College student Cameron McIntrye told WNEG News about his experience at Christmas Fest.

“I like it a lot so far. I really like the music, and the live nativity, and the lights. And a group of carolers sang to us, I really liked that.”

Polly McMinn, of Toccoa, told WNEG News that she has attended Christmas Fest a number of years.

McMinn added that one of her favorite things to do at Christmas Fest is to watch all of the people enjoying themselves as they walk through downtown.

On Saturday the annual Christmas Parade attracted a large amount of people as well who came out to scramble to pick up candy, and watch as the many floats pass by.

This year, the winners of the Christmas Parade were for best overall Gateway Community Chapel; Best School, Stephens County Special Olympics; Best Church/Civic Group was the Cub Scouts Pack 77; and for category Best Other the winner was Currahee Saddle Club.