CLARKESVILLE, Ga. – Hundreds filled the downtown square Friday evening for the annual Downtown Clarkesville Christmas celebration, an event that blended small-town tradition with festive lights, music, and community spirit
Early in the evening, the Clarkesville Fire Department set up a public fire pit, where visitors gathered to roast marshmallows and warm their hands on a very chilly December evening. The crackling flames quickly became a gathering spot for families working their way through the festivities.
Regional musician Mat Fried opened the night’s stage entertainment with a set of Christmas favorites, his acoustic sound between storefronts lined with lights and inflatable holiday characters. His performance helped set the tone as the square grew steadily more crowded.
Pictures with Santa
One of the longest lines of the night stretched down Monroe St., where families waited for free professional photos with Santa.
Children bundled in blankets and parents carrying hot chocolate inched towards the festively decorated gazebo, where Santa greeted each visitor with a smile beneath strings of lights.
Christmas tree lighting
As dusk gave way to night, the Clarkesville mayor and city council stepped onto the square for the community’s annual Christmas tree lighting.
The towering tree burst to life with hundreds of white lights and red ornaments, drawing cheers and marking the official start of the Christmas season downtown.
Local businesses also took part in the celebration, decorating storefronts for the city’s annual door contest. Century 21 Community Realty claimed this year’s top honor, attracting visitors who stopped to admire its bright display of garland, ornaments, and glowing Christmas scenes framed in its windows.
Food vendors lined the streets as families made their way to the Habersham 4-H Office for the Gingerbread House Palooza where visitors viewed entries and voted for their favorite designs. The Grinch made an appearance there as well, posing for free photos with children throughout the evening.
