Busy weekend ahead in downtown

The downtown will be illuminated by luminaria (in addition to the regular holiday lights). The event features horse-drawn carriage rides from City Hall, hot chocolate and marshmallows (roasted over a fire pit) at Spencer Park, Santa’s Workshop, also at Spencer Park, a live nativity scene at McDonald Hardware, photos with Santa at Chris’ Place on South Broad Street, Mrs. Claus will tell stories at Shubert and Co. on South Broad Street, dancers will perform at Commerce School of Dance on South Broad Street, and carolers will be working the streets.

The Love of Llamas 4-H Club will have llamas at Spencer Park; the group is also in charge of the nativity scene. Carolers will be members of the Cold Sassy Players little theater group, and Carol Streetman Photography will shoot photos of kids with Santa.

“We have 22 merchants participating,” noted Denise McKay, director of the Downtown Development Authority.

Many of those merchants will offer refreshments. Some will also offer door prizes, which will be given out by the DDA, McKay said. To qualify, shoppers must pick up a “passport” at the DDA office, McDonald Hardware or Subway and take the passports by each merchant for validation.

On Saturday, the DDA, Pilot Club of Commerce and the Four Seasons Garden Club will host Breakfast with Santa and the Secret Santa Workshop from 10 a.m. to 11:30 at the Commerce Civic Center.

Kids will get to have juice and donuts and visit with Santa. They can also do their Christmas shopping, as merchandise from local businesses — priced to match a child’s budget — will be on sale. Adults will be available to help kids manage their money and select gifts.

Also on Saturday, the Commerce Public Library will host a free screening of “The Muppets Christmas Carol” at 2 p.m. Refreshments will be available for a modest charge.

The highlight of the Commerce weekend will come Sunday, when the Christmas Parade comes through downtown at 3:00.

Lineup begins at 1 p.m., with walking units starting from the parking lot of Commerce Presbyterian Church and riding units beginning at the parking lot of Commerce Primary School.
The route will take the parade up Lakeview Drive to Jefferson Road, right to the traffic light and down through town on Elm Street. It will terminate at the Lanier Technical College parking lot on South Elm.

The parade theme is North Pole Fantasy. Cash awards of $300, $200 and $100 will be given to the top three entries.

Nicholson To Light Christmas Tree

Nicholson will welcome the holiday season with its annual tree lighting at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Nicholson Community Center.

The Rev. Theodore Braswell, Jones Chapel Baptist Church, will read scripture and Ricky Fitzpatrick, New Hope Baptist Church Choir and The Maxwells will sing Christmas songs.
Santa Claus will receive children in the community center. There will be a live nativity scene, and refreshments will be served.

The annual Christmas tree trimming party will be held at noon Saturday at the Harold Swindle Public Library. All area children are invited to attend, where there will be refreshments and craft activities as the library’s tree is decorated.