Beginning this weekend with the opening of the Christmas Park and Deck the Halls in Williamston, and over the next few weeks, the calendar will be filled with local events to get you into the Holiday Spirit! (Pictured File Photo PHS Band)
The lighting of the park is scheduled for this Saturday, Nov. 25 at 6 p.m. The event will include visits with Santa Claus and the annual Deck the Halls lighted Christmas trees in the Williamston Municipal Center.
The 15th annual Fork Shoals Christmas Parade will be the first of several area parades and will be held Sunday, Nov. 26 at 3 pm. The parade is always held on the first Sunday after Thanksgiving. The theme for this year’s parade will be “Christmas in Mayberry”.
Fork Shoals is the closest example yet to Mayberry RFD. 46 floats, antique vehicles and dignitaries will be in attendance, including Barney Fife and Thelma Lou with Barney’s squad car and his bullet. And, of course, Santa Claus will be arriving by way of the North Pole. A grand time is promised to be had by all.
For more information contact Durant Ashmore at durantashmore@aol.com
The West Pelzer Christmas Parade will be held at 3pm on Saturday, December 2nd. The parade will begin at the West Pelzer Fire Department and proceed down Main Street (Hwy. 8) through West Pelzer and onto Lebby Street in Pelzer and to the Saluda River. Awards will be given for the overall best float, as well as the religious and school categories. Following the parade, cookies, coffee and hot chocolate will be served at Chapman Park.
The Piedmont Christmas Parade which will take place on Saturday, December 9th, at 11 am. The parade begins at the Save-A-Lot center on Hwy. 86, crosses the Saluda River Bridge and ends at the intersection at the top of the hill.
Interested participants should contact Kathy Hand, Chairman, 864-607-2702, Paige Crawford, 864-567-5390, or Maxie Freeman, 864-569-4364.
Entry forms can be aobtained at the Piedmont Fire Department. Entry fee is $15 for individuals and $30 for clubs. The deadline for entry is December 1st. Late fees are $20 and $40.
The Williamston Christmas Parade will be held Saturday, December 9 at 3 p.m. The theme will be “Keep Christ in Christmas”.
The parade will begin at the traffic light at Hamilton St. and Greenville Dr. and will end at Calvary Baptist Church. There is no fee to enter the annual parade, but all entrants are encouraged to bring plenty of candy.
Sherrie Cole is the parade organizer. Registration will be held in advance by submitting an entry form to the Town of Williamston at PO Box 70, by FAX to 864-847-5910 or email to sherricole@charter.net.
Registration will also be held day of parade at the line up which will be held at Fort Hill Gas offices at 701 N. Hamilton St. at 2:15 p.m. and ending at 2:50 p.m.
Registration forms are available at the Williamston Municipal Center or participants can call Town Hall at 847-7473 or Cole at 864-847-5501 or 864-353-2893 for information or registration.
The Greenville & Western Railway Company, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Western Carolina Railway Service Corporation, will celebrate their tenth year of bringing Santa to the area on Saturday, Dec. 9 with the “Santa Express”.
The Santa Express will have stops in Belton, Cheddar, Williamston and Pelzer.
At each stop children can step on board Santa’s caboose and tell him exactly what they want for Christmas. They will receive a sweet treat and Santa will draw tickets at every stop for special gifts from his gift bag.
The Santa Express schedule is as follows:
Belton – arrive O’Neal Street 10:45 a.m., depart 12:15 p.m.
Cheddar – Cheddar Road arrive 1:30 p.m., depart 2:45 p.m.
Williamston – Williams Street arrive 3:15 p.m., depart 4:15 p.m.
Pelzer – Lyman Street (at the depot) arrive 4:45 p.m., depart 7:15 p.m.
Santa will stay until the last person has a chance to come through the caboose at Pelzer, G&W Railway officials said.
The Greenville & Western Railway is also partnering with the Belton Interfaith Ministerial Association (“BIMA”) and the Presbyterian Food Bank of Pelzer and Williamston (“PFB”) to collect food for those in our community who may find themselves in a time of real need.
Greenville & Western encourages the community to bring a donation of one or more non-perishable food items to the train on Dec. 9.
Greenville & Western, BIMA and PFB volunteers will be staffing Aiken Railway caboose (the caboose directly behind the locomotives) to accept donations.
