Christmas in the Streets, hosted by First Baptist Church of Chickamauga and the Chickamauga Merchant’s Association, will kickoff the Christmas season in Chickamauga by providing a full day of holiday fun for the entire family on Saturday, Dec. 6. This annual event is held to encourage residents and visitors to get into the spirit of Christmas and to showcase downtown Chickamauga, officials said.
Attendees are invited to begin the day at First Baptist Church’s gym with a pancake breakfast with Santa from 8:30-10:30 a.m. and then go to the downtown area for the remainder of the day’s activities. The downtown area will be filled with more than 40 crafters, artisans, and food vendors from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. In addition to special sales and door prizes throughout the day, downtown merchants will offer extended hours, complimentary evening snacks and warm drinks to holiday shoppers. Visiting all downtown merchants will qualify entrants for numerous door prizes and a grand prize.
Throughout the day, a live nativity scene will take place on the lawn of Elizabeth Lee United Methodist Church.
Behind the historic Train Depot and Visitors Center from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Kids’ Alley, a destination for children, will return. Children are encouraged to enjoy crafts, carnival games, face painting, reading with Granny Christmas and photos with Santa. While in Kids’ Alley, children will have the opportunity to choose one free item from hundreds of available gift choices to wrap and take home to a special person in their life.
At 5 p.m., the streets will be cleared and made ready for the annual Chickamauga Christmas Parade, which will begin at 6 p.m. at Gordon Lee High School and will conclude at Crystal Springs Print Works. Immediately following the parade, the community is encouraged to remain downtown for carols and the lighting of the downtown Christmas tree.
The evening will offer great family events including candlelight tours of the beautifully decorated Gordon-Lee Mansion and a special Christmas street-performance by the choir of Oakwood Baptist Church.
Admission to the event is free, and everyone is welcome. Applications for vendors and parade participants, additional details, and a complete schedule are available online at www.chickamaugafestivals.com or by calling First Baptist Church of Chickamauga at (706) 375-2733.