Paiton Carothers of Clarkesville delights in the lights during a Downtown Clarkesville Christmas.
A record-breaking crowd gathered Saturday night on the Clarkesville Square to usher in the final countdown to Christmas. Hundreds of people from throughout Habersham and neighboring counties enjoyed the winter wonderland theme complete with bubble snowflakes and electric light flurries. Clarkesville Main Street director Mary Beth Horton says she’s thrilled by the turnout. “I think it’s been great. This is the biggest crowd we’ve ever had. This is the fourth year that we’ve done the Downtown Clarkesville Christmas and this year is the best.”
Shops and restaurants in Clarkesville stayed open late. Woods Furniture Store again hosted ‘Windows at Woods’ where actors recreate scenes from popular Christmas stories and movies behind storefront windows. There were s’mores and hot cocoa and lots of live entertainment.
Planning for the annual event starts in the summer. Horton says the first order of business is lining up the star attraction. “Obviously you’ve got to give Santa Claus a lot of notice to be here.” The line to see Santa wrapped around the Clarkesville gazebo. Small children whispered their wishes in Santa’s ear while older ones wrote their wishes on a nearby Wish Wall. Thousands of lights lit up the Square. A snow bubble machine provided a wintry backdrop for pictures and lots of fun for the kids.
4-year old Maddox Meeks of Mt. Airy cried when his grandmother pulled him away from the bubbly flakes to snap a family photo. His tears didn’t dampen his grandmother’s mood though, “I think it’s wonderful. The Christmas tree lights and the snowflakes are beautiful. They put you in the Christmas spirit,” says Linda Skelton of Demorest.
A group of young girls from Clarkesville Elementary School strolled through the crowd handing out candy canes to those who weren’t smiling. They were on a mission to spread cheer and it worked. 8-year old Ava Fowler gave 14-year old Catie Long of Cornelia a candy cane and a great big hug. “I was very surprised because I’m not normally used to being come up to and embraced and I was extremely excited and happy. I was just elated!,” says Long. Ava and her friends received as much joy as they gave. “It feels really good to be spreading Christmas spirit,” Ava says. 8-year old Maddie Dills says, “It’s fun because we’re spreading Christmas joy to everybody.”
Organizers say spreading joy and making memories is what a Downtown Clarkesville Christmas is all about. “It’s a Norman Rockwellesque thing,” Horton says, emphasizing Clarkesville’s small town charm. “Everybody gathers in one spot and the lights are so pretty and everybody shops. It’s just a feel good, down home Christmas event.”
More scenes from a Downtown Clarkesville Christmas on Saturday, December 13, 2014.
