Christmas will blow into Commerce this weekend, with three days of holiday activities in the downtown that begin with a candlelight shopping experience Friday night and culminate with the city’s annual Christmas Parade Sunday afternoon.
Commerce by Candlelight
The weekend starts Friday evening at 5:00 with Commerce by Candlelight. Most downtown businesses will be open until 9 p.m. and offering sales and refreshments, but several activities will take place outside throughout the downtown.
They include the opportunity for a horse-and-carriage ride sponsored by the Commerce Area Business Association, a pair of free photo opportunities in Spencer Park should families want a photo for a Christmas card, and music.
“What we added are singers from the City Hall steps,” notes Denise McKay, director of the Downtown Development Authority. Among the groups providing music will be the Commerce High School Concert Chorus, the Hand Bell Choir of the First United Methodist Church, and the city’s own Rick Lewis. McKay said the Public Works Department director will provide “country Christmas” music.
In the park, two photo backdrops — one whimsical, McKay reported, and the other traditional – will be set up so families can capture a Christmas moment for holiday cards. There is no charge, but families must bring their own cameras. Someone will be present to snap the photos.
In conjunction with the event, the Gov. Hardman House, which is reopening as an event venue, will offer tours from 6 p.m. to 9.
Saturday Events
The Commerce Civic Center will be the venue for several events throughout the morning and a good part of the afternoon.
Children can enjoy “Donuts and Juice with Santa” from 10 to 11:30. For $2, kids can get refreshments and a chance to advise Santa on what gifts are desired, and for $5, the Four Seasons Garden Club will take a photo of Santa and the child.
During those same hours, the Pilot Club of Commerce and Jackson Creative will offer the “Secret Santa Workshop,” an event featuring gift items for $10 or less that is designed to help kids finish their Christmas gift-buying.
Adults will help kids manage their money, assist with selection if necessary and will provide gift-wrapping.
Two events follow — also at the civic center – to give parents some free time to do their own shopping.
The Commerce Recreation Department will offer “Candycane lane,” a babysitting service, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for $5 per child. The cost includes a pizza lunch, but the event is restricted to school-age children.
At 2 p.m., the Commerce Public Library will present “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas,” also at the civic center. The movie is free.
“This allows parents to go downtown and do whatever they need to do,” McKay said. “They just need to come back and check their kids into the movie.”
Christmas Parade Sunday Afternoon
The weekend climaxes with the city’s annual Christmas Parade, which is due to start at 3 p.m.
Mobile units will stage in the parking lot across from Commerce Primary School, starting at 1 p.m., while walking units will organize at Commerce High School. The parade route will go into town on Washington Street, turn south on Elm Street, go through town and end at Lanier Technical College.
As of Monday morning, McKay said 40 groups had already filled out applications.
“A good many more will come this week,” she predicted.
The bands from Commerce and East Jackson high schools will march, along with the East Jackson JROTC. McKay pointed out that, for the first time, the North Georgia Shriners Club will bring its miniature cars to the parade.
Santa will make his “official” arrival in town atop the Commerce Fire Department’s vintage pumper truck, escorted by firemen and their children.
The parade theme is “trimming the tree.”
