This event has been postponed until Dec. 7, 2023.
Clarkesville postpones Downtown Christmas celebration and parade
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Clarkesville Main Street is abuzz with excitement as it readies for the much-anticipated Christmas on the Square event and the traditional Habersham County Christmas parade. The festivities are scheduled to take place on Saturday, December 2, with Christmas on the Square kicking off at 3:00 p.m. and continuing until 8:00 p.m. The parade will commence at 6:00 p.m., starting from the new courthouse on Llewellyn Street and concluding at the old courthouse on Monroe Street.
Clarkesville Main Street Director Colby Moore shared details about the event’s itinerary. The festivities will begin at 3:00 p.m., featuring Santa Claus at the gazebo for professional photographs courtesy of CLS Films. Participants will have the opportunity to capture the holiday spirit with free photos with Santa.
This year, Christmas on the Square introduces a delightful addition with vendors and food trucks adding to the festive atmosphere. Attendees can enjoy live music performances by LeAnne Challenger, Shady Grove Baptist Church, and Mat Fried throughout the event.
A highlight of the celebration is the third annual Cookie Crawl. Moore noted its immense popularity, emphasizing that participants should purchase their $5 cookie boxes early at the Clarkesville Main Street tent on the square. Each family is limited to two boxes, noting the 300 available boxes sold out in just 35 minutes last year.
The Christmas Tree lighting near the gazebo is scheduled for 5:50 p.m., marking the beginning of the parade at 6:00 p.m. This year’s parade theme, “Through the Ages,” aligns with Clarkesville’s bicentennial celebration. Moore encourages everyone there is still time to participate. “You can still sign up. We would like to have as many floats, as many people as we can get.”
To honor the bicentennial, the parade will feature three grand marshals: reenactors from the History Thru the Hemlocks portraying famous citizens in Clarkesville’s history—Jarvis Van Buren, Cornelius Stanford, and Susan Kollock.
Santa will make a special appearance at the end of the parade and return to the gazebo for families to take pictures.
Parking details were also provided by Moore. He wanted everyone to know that there will be no shuttle service this year. However, public parking is available near and around the square, including spaces at the Clarkesville police department, behind the Mauldin House, the old courthouse, and a public parking lot across from the Copper Pot. Parking on the square itself will not be available.
Moore emphasized that it’s not too late to join as a vendor (click here) or parade participant (click here). Interested parties can find forms on the City of Clarkesville’s Facebook page or email Moore at [email protected]. All vendor and parade participant fees are waived for this year’s special event.
MORE NORTHEAST GEORGIA HOLIDAY EVENTS:
- Join the Jingle Mingle and lighting of the Big Chicken
- Red Bird Acres Christmas Lights opens for second year
- Christmas in downtown Clayton, Georgia
- Piedmont University’s 35th Annual Service of Lessons and Carols
- Athens-Clarke County Downtown Parade of Lights
- Christmas in Cornelia set for Dec. 9
