Children’s laughter and smiling faces filled Cornelia City Park Saturday as hundreds turned out for Christmas in Cornelia.
Activities included pictures with Santa, arts & crafts for the kids, shopping for the adults and bonfires, hayrides and ice skating for everyone. There was even a special outdoor viewing of the Disney movie Frozen. As families settled in for the movie a stream of cars carrying people looking at lights slowly drove past them.
Cornelia City Park looked, smelled and felt a whole lot like Christmas this weekend. Temperatures were in the upper 30s Saturday night and that just added to the holiday feel.
A very pregnant Crystal McCall braved the elements for her two children. She didn’t dare put on ice skates but she watched and laughed as her 6-year old daughter McKenzie tried to get around the rink without falling.
The McCalls moved to Habersham County this year. It was their first time attending Christmas in Cornelia. “I love it,” Crystal exclaims, “The kids love it.” She says it’s going to become their new family tradition. And their family’s about to get bigger. The McCall’s third child, a boy, is due December 30.
Heath Woodall, too, braved the cold. He works with the Cornelia Main Street program. His job Saturday was to direct traffic. He says he doesn’t know how many people came but, “…there’s a bunch.” Woodall says people started coming to Cornelia City Park around 5:45 p.m. Saturday and traffic was steady throughout the evening.
It was warmer inside the Community House at the Christmas Marketplace where local artists and vendors set up their wares to sell to last-minute shoppers. Ginger Demore of Baldwin sold bottle cap necklaces, ear rings and hairbows. Demore says it’s her third year as a vendor at the marketplace and says this year was, “Wonderful, wonderful. Packed. It’s a wonderful event.” Demore says she gets more than sales out of Christmas in Cornelia. “I enjoy the Christmas lights. Seeing all the kids with all the Santa Claus stuff. It’s a fun activity that this county really needs.”
Across the room Robin Lovell of Clarkesville watched kids dance with cows (the Chick-Fil-A cow, that is) and head downstairs to visit with Santa. Lovell sold gourd bread baskets and painted Christmas decorations. She says she “sold some stuff” but got the most pleasure out of watching the kids. “I got to see all the kids come through. I think it’s been great!”
Saturday was the culmination of a week of Christmas in Cornelia activities. The event was organized by the Cornelia Main Street Program with the help of local business sponsors.
Ice skating and hayrides ended Sunday. Now all that remains are the light displays in the park. They’ll be up until January 1, 2015.
Santa was the star attraction Saturday but the children shone, too. Dressed up in their cute hats, buttoned up coats and bows, they kept their parents hopping. Their excitement was a cheerful reminder to the adults in the crowd of their own youthful Christmases past. The children’s shrill screams of delight were just a precursor of what’s to come Christmas day.
Some more photos of Christmas in Cornelia 2014 (click images to enlarge)
