As the Poultry Capital of the World, it seems only fitting to start off the Holiday Season with The Lighting of the Chicken. November 18th at the Downtown Square in Gainesville, Georgia, at 7:00 p.m., you have the opportunity to witness the 25-foot metal chicken light up in a ceremonious affair. It’s the Jingle Mingle, something you do not want to miss!
The Downtown Square comes to life in a holiday fashion with open houses in downtown businesses, live music, carriage rides, kiddie train rides, Santa and his arrival on a Gainesville Fire Engine, the Coca-Cola bear, S’more Station, and the grand Lighting of the Chicken.
Here is a Time Line to help you navigate the event:
EVENT TIMELINE:
- 5:00 am: Parking Closes on Main Street
- 1:00 pm: Road Closure on Main Street
- 2:00 pm: All Roads Close for Event, Entertainment Set Up Begins
- 4:00 pm: Event Begins!
4:00 pm – 6:30 pm: Family Fun Activities and Open Houses
- Kiddy Train Rides!
- Carriage Rides!
- Coca-Cola Bear!
- Roosevelt Square Local Stage!
- JB Jams as DJ from 4-8 pm!
- 4:00 pm: Balthazar Gradin
- 5:30 pm: Young Singers of Northeast Ga
- 6:00 pm: Elevate Performing Arts
- Open Houses in Historic Buildings, with sales, live music, and refreshments!
- Visitor’s Center Festival of Trees!
- S’more Stations with Gainesville Fire Department!
- Inflatable slide!
- Jingle Mingle Merchandise, plus Gainesville holiday gift bundles for sale!
5:00 pm: Santa Arrives on a Fire Truck. (Santa gets on a truck on Maple/Spring St, rides up Spring Street, turns left on Bradford Street, left on Washington, exits, and the fire truck goes down Washington St to exit the event.)
5:00-8:00 pm: Photos with Santa on the Square
6:45 pm: Lighting of the Chicken Ceremony Begins!
7:00 pm: The Chicken is Lit!
7:00- 8:00 pm: Open Houses continue with photo opportunities downtown.
New This Year!
Starting during Jingle Mingle on November 18th, stop by the Adopt-A-Shop tree and grab a #SupportSmallBusiness Wishlist to support your FAVORITE downtown Gainesville business this year! Everyone who participates will be entered into a drawing for a Downtown Gainesville Bundle Basket, with over $500 worth of merchandise, goods, and services!
All Parking Decks are FREE in Gainesville!
- Main Street Parking Deck, 301 Main St.
- Hall County Parking Facility, 225 Green St.
- North Parking Deck, 130 Main St.
