Children of all ages are invited to enjoy holiday cheer at The City of Summerville’s annual Christmas In The Park event in Dowdy Park. Christmas In The Park will be presented to the public on Friday, December 8 from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Santa will arrive at the park at 6:00mp.m. to visit and offer free photos with children. There will be a Best Dressed Elf Contest, Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest, The Christmas Candy Smack Down Contest and lots of fun scheduled for the evening. This year’s event will highlight vendors on site with a wide variety of crafts, food, baked items, and merchandise for shopping.
The official lighting of the tree ceremony is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.in Dowdy Park. The tree will be lit by the winner of The Best Dressed Elf contest, accompanied by Mayor Harry Harvey. Complimentary hot chocolate and popcorn provided by the City of Summerville will be available in the middle gazebo to tempt the taste buds. Free holiday miniature train rides will also be offered around the park, along with holiday hayrides being offered.
Live musical performances with a variety of performers, including Michael Lee Stancil, will be a highlight, bringing Christmas cheer to all. Special drawings for a girl’s and a boy’s bike, as well as a Christmas ham will be done at 8:30 p.m. Tickets for the drawings will be available at the big gazebo at no charge. Only one ticket per item will be allowed per person. Ticket holders must be present to win.
Best Dressed Elf Competition
The Best Dressed Elf contest is open to all elementary aged children and sponsored by Summerville Main Street. Registration for “Elves” entering the contest will be held at the small gazebo in Dowdy Park between 6:00- 6:30 p.m. Judging is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. The contest winner will receive a trophy, be named “Head Elf”, and will do the honors of lighting the official park tree. The tree lighting is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest
The Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest is open to all ages. Registration begins at 7:15 at the small gazebo and judging begins at 7:30 p.m. Plenty of fun and Christmas cheer is expected from this contest, with the winner taking home a $50 cash prize. This contest is sponsored by Summerville Main Street.
The Christmas Candy Smack Down Contest
Attention Bakers: Summerville Main Street is looking for the best candy makers in the area to compete in the 2023 Christmas Candy Smack Down. For the bakers up to accepting the challenge, bring one dozen pieces of your favorite homemade Christmas Candy, along with your recipe to the small gazebo in Dowdy Park during Christmas in the Park. Entries will be accepted from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Recipes are subject to be publicized by our local media. Your candy entry should be accompanied by a registration form, which may be filled out on site. Six pieces of the candy will be sampled for judging, with the remaining six pieces of candy being packaged and donated as a Christmas Gift to Public Safety and First Responders. Event winners will be announced at 8:00 p.m. trophies will be awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners and the winning entry will be proclaimed by Mayor Harvey as “Best Christmas Candy For 2023”.
Free tours of the Couey House will be given by the Chattooga County Historical Society. The house is furnished in period appropriate furnishing that would have been appropriate of Chattooga County families in the early 1840-1850’s. The Chattooga County Garden Club will adorn the house with all natural Christmas Decor.
Victorian Christmas Saturday, December 9
Shop, dine, enjoy children’s activities and welcome the holiday season in while participating in the Victorian Christmas Holiday Stop N Shop for a chance to win $500 cash!
The East Washington streetscape and Summerville Depot will be transformed into a magical street vendor market with over 28 craft and food vendors. While roaming up and down the streets, the public is encouraged to dress in Victorian-era style and dress for fun. Street Market hours will be 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Children may enjoy free storytelling and visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Summerville Depot. Gingerbread cookies & Yoo-Hoo chocolate milks will be served to the first 300 children. Story Telling and visits will begin at 11:00 a.m. with the last session beginning at 4:00 p.m.
How Does The Holiday Stop ‘N Shop Work?
Event participants will pick up a locations map/passport with participating businesses. The maps/passports may be picked up at participating downtown Summerville businesses this Saturday. To join the fun, event goers will simply visit all of the participating businesses to complete the passport map during the business hours during the Stop ‘N Shop event. There is no purchase necessary to participate. Upon entering the participating business, all event participants will have the sales clerk/cashier to stamp their passport map. Upon completion of the passport map, event participants will turn in the passport to Three Penny Treasures, located beside Jefferson’s.
Grand Prize Drawing for $500
All completed passports should be turned in by 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 9 to be entered for the Grand Prize Drawing of $500, sponsored by Summerville Main Street to be held at 4:45p.m. on the courthouse steps. Event participants do not need to be present to win. Summerville Main Street is encouraging the public to support local Summerville small businesses by shopping during and following this event.
Admission and parking is free. For more information on these events visit The City of Summerville Georgia Facebook Page or www.summervillega.org
