Lighted floats make their way through downtown Cleveland during White County's annual Christmas in the Mountains lighted parade on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (Riley Moody/NowHabersham.com)
CLEVELAND, Ga. — Downtown Cleveland came alive Saturday, Dec. 6, as hundreds gathered for the annual Christmas in the Mountains festival. The daylong celebration filled the city with music, lights, holiday shopping, and one of White County’s most beloved traditions: the nighttime lighted parade.
Hosted by the White County Chamber of Commerce, this year’s festival delivered an expanded schedule of events. The Holiday Market around the courthouse square opened at noon. It featured handmade goods, local crafts, food vendors, and seasonal treats.
The daylong event wasn’t hampered too much by what was unfolding in Atlanta. Vendors and revelers soaked up the atmosphere without completely giving up their SEC Championship as cell phones and TVs beamed images of the Georgia-Alabama grudge match.
Just before dusk, crowds gathered at Freedom Park for the community tree lighting. And at 6 p.m., the Christmas parade rolled through downtown.
