Light Up Senoia parade, festivities set for Saturday
By SARAH FAY CAMPBELL
sarah@newnan.com
Saturday is the day for Light Up Senoia, which includes the annual twilight Christmas parade, a visit from Santa, Santa’s workshop, live music and food.
“It is just a great way to celebrate a small-town Christmas,” said Gail Downs of the Senoia Downtown Development Authority, which puts on the event.
The event begins at 4 p.m. Saturday. That’s when the food court and Santa’s workshop will open.
Food offerings include pizza, barbecue, roasted corn, hot dogs, baked goods and hot cider.
The parade will start at 5:30 p.m., and many of the floats will be lit. After the parade, Santa will light the city’s Christmas tree and visit with children.
Senoia resident Rutledge Wood, co-host of The History Channel’s “Top Gear,” was to be the grand marshal for the parade, along with his family. However, he will be unable to serve because of a scheduling conflict.
Instead, there will be a special surprise grand marshal, say Downtown Development officials.
The children’s area will be located inside 48 Main St. There will be crafts for the kids and face painting with Dusty the Clown. The children’s crafts will be free of charge. Santa’s Workshop is sponsored by the Coweta-Fayette Rotary Club.
There will be entrainment including the Georgia Doll’s Twirlers, Rachel’s Dance Connection, and vocal quartet Shades of Red. The Car Guys, Scott Sargent and Charlie Filkins, will be emceeing. There will be pony rides.
There are about 50 parade entries, said Downs, including the East Coweta Marching Indians. Santa and Mrs. Claus will ride the final float.
Santa always stays until every child has a chance to visit with him, said Downs. There will also be a mailbox for children to send their letters to Santa.
Many downtown shops will be open late, said Downs.
Representatives from the DDA will also be selling tickets for Senoia’s annual Candlelight Tour of Homes, which will be Dec. 9 from 5 to 8 p.m. Advance tickets are $12. Tickets will be $15 the day of the event.
Senoia will be decked out in its Christmas finery and ready for the holiday. During filming of “The Walking Dead,” some of the city’s landscaping had to be left to go wild.
But now, “the grass is cut and the zombies are gone,” Downs said. “So it is a perfect setting for a Christmas celebration.”
