Many area families will gather to offer Thanks and eat turkey on Thanksgiving Day this Thursday. After that a number of events will be held throughout the area to help you get in the Holiday Spirit.
Black Friday shopping events at retail stores throughout the upstate and online will entice shoppers on the day after Thanksgiving.
The Palmetto Business Association encouraging shoppers to “Shop Local”. The PBA is offering an incentive to check out local stores with a Scavenger Hunt starting on Small Business Saturday (Nov. 30). Participants who complete the hunt will be entered to win cash prizes of $500 (Grand Prize), $300 (2nd Place), and $200 (3rd Place) in Christmas shopping money.
The Scavenger Hunt will be open to the first 100 participants who pick up a scavenger hunt card at Maple Bakery and Coffee House located at 908 Anderson Drive in Williamston.
Participating businesses are listed in an ad in this week’s Journal and on the PBA Scavenger Hunt card.
Downtown Williamston will be transformed into a “Winter Wonderland” with all day activities on Sunday, Dec. 1.
Mineral Spring Park and the Williamston Municipal Building will be transformed into a magical Christmas presentation that is visited by thousands of local people from out of the area. The lighting of the Christmas Park and opening of Deck the Halls will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 1 as part of the “Winter Wonderland” event in Williamston.
In addition to the annual tree and park lighting and opening of Deck the Halls, the Envision Williamston “Winter Wonderland” event will feature carriage rides, cookies and hot chocolate, carolers, a live nativity, a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus, “SNOW” and more, organizers say.
A Winter Wonderland Market will be held from 12 pm to 8 pm at Town Hall. The event will have 46 vendors offering unique gifts and festive treats, with something for everyone. Vendors will be set up in the auditorium and the Town Hall banquet rooms.
Ashlynn Swift of Ash Photography will be offering FREE family photos in the dining room at Town Hall.
The annual Christmas Parade will begin at 5 pm and the Christmas Tree Lighting, Park Lighting and other festivities will begin at 7 pm. There will also be carnival rides in downtown Williamston this year.
Santa will be in the Scout Hut in Mineral Spring Park.
If decorating for the Holidays is your thing, Envision Williamston is holding their Annual “Griswold” Christmas Decorating Contest. Displays can be set up now through December 13. Entry forms for the contest must be turned in to Town Hall. All entries must submit a photo of their display to EWBoardMembers@gmail.com by December 13.
Online judging for the “Griswold” Christmas Decorating Contest will be held Dec. 16 – 20.
The Williamston Christmas Parade will be held on Sunday, Dec. 1 at 5 p.m. as part of the Winter Wonderland event in Williamston. The parade route will begin at East Main Street and Hamilton Street and end at the traffic light at West Main and Academy Street.
Check-in will be held at 4 p.m. the old Fort Hill Natural Gas Building located at 701 North Hamilton Street. Pre-registration is highly recommended as check-in will go faster.
Judges will be in front of Town Hall. Awards will be given out immediately after the parade in front of Town Hall.
The Williamston Cemetery Committee and Town of Williamston will hold the annual
Candlelight Service on Thursday, December 5, at 5:30 p.m. at the Williamston Cemetery located on Gossett Street.
This year’s service is in loving memory of Julie Cole, a long-time, hard-working, and dedicated public servant and member of the Cemetery Committee. The homily will be delivered by the Reverend Larry Baldwin of Hillcrest Baptist Church. Music will be provided by various local artists. Palmetto High AFJROTC cadets, under the direction of Lt Colonel Mike Creamer, also help with the candle lighting.
The Holly Jolly Christmas Parade will be held in Piedmont on Saturday, December 7 at 11 am. The parade is organized by The Bonnes Amies Club.
Parade entry forms can be obtained online on The Piedmont Christmas Parade Facebook page, picked up at the Piedmont Fire Department, or by calling Gail Trotter Chair 864-559-0430, Lisa Greer Co -Chair 864-380-5640
The West Pelzer/Pelzer Christmas Parade of Lights will be held Saturday, December 7 beginning at 5:30 pm. The parade route will be West Pelzer Fire Department to Courtney Street in Pelzer.
All participants must pre-register. Check-in will be held at the West Pelzer Fire Department.
Judges will be in front of Chapman Park. Awards will be given at the end of the parade in front of Chapman Park.
Entry forms are available for download or pick-up at the following locations: Town of West Pelzer, 30 Main Street or online at www.westpelzer.com.
Also at Town of Pelzer, 103 Courtney Street or online at www.townofpelzer.us.
The first annual tree lighting in Chapman Park in West Pelzer will be held Dec. 6 at 5 pm.
The Greenville & Western Railroad will host their Eighteenth Annual “Santa Express” on Dec. 14.
Following Santa’s arrival at each stop, children will have the opportunity to step on board Santa’s caboose and tell Old Saint Nick what they want for Christmas. Before departing, Santa will also draw tickets at each stop for special gifts.
The event is free for children of all ages.
The Santa Express schedule will be: Honea Path – No stop at Hamby Road this year due to coal train in storage south of Belton; Belton – O’Neal Street – Arrive 9 AM Depart 11:15; Cheddar – Cheddar Road – Arrive 12:45 PM Depart 2:15 PM; Williamston – Williams Street – Arrive 3 PM Depart 4:30 PM and Pelzer – Lyman Street – Arrive 5 PM Depart 7:30 PM *
The Snow Campaign Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) invites the community to take part in this year’s Wreaths Across America ceremony, to be held at Pine Lawn Cemetery on Saturday, December 14th. The ceremony, which is part of the national Wreaths Across America initiative, honors veterans by placing wreaths on the graves of fallen soldiers, ensuring their sacrifice is never forgotten.
The event will begin at 12 pm and will include a short program. Volunteers will then place wreaths at the gravesites of veterans buried at Pine Lawn, taking a moment at each grave to say the veteran’s name aloud—a gesture that underscores Wreaths Across America’s mission to remember, honor, and teach.
