LAVONIA, Ga. — Downtown Lavonia was full of holiday spirit Sunday as crowds gathered for the city’s annual Christmas parade. This year’s theme, “A Classic Christmas in Lavonia,” brought nostalgic floats, festive music, and families bundled up along the sidewalks to watch the procession roll through the newly designed route.
The parade began at 3 p.m. at Lavonia City Hall, traveling toward the Lavonia Police Department before circling the downtown square in a complete loop — a new route introduced for 2025 to give spectators more viewing space and keep the flow moving smoothly around the business district.
Residents cheered as marching bands, vintage cars, local organizations, and holiday characters passed by. Children waved at Santa, who arrived near the end of the parade, greeting the crowd from his decorated sleigh.
City officials say the updated route helped ease congestion and allowed visitors to spread out along downtown streets. Businesses opened their doors to shoppers, and several restaurants offered holiday specials as the city celebrated one of its most anticipated traditions.
The parade served as the centerpiece of Lavonia’s classic Christmas weekend, welcoming residents and visitors to enjoy the start of the holiday season in the heart of downtown, and was one of many weekend Christmas celebrations across Northeast Georgia.
