Light Up Senoia: 'Walking Dead' actor livens parade
By SARAH FAY CAMPBELL
sarah@newnan.com
Senoia’s holiday season got off to a festive start Saturday with the annual Light Up Senoia event and Christmas parade.
Light Up Senoia featured decorated floats, as well as entertainment, a “Santa’s Workshop” craft area for children, a food court, pony rides, visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus and, of course, the lighting of the city’s Christmas tree.
“We had Scott Wilson from ‘The Walking Dead’ as our grand marshal. Everybody loved that,” Helfman said.
Wilson stepped in after Senoia resident Rutledge Wood had to cancel his appearance because of a conflict with his television show, “Top Gear.”
Wilson, an Atlanta native who now lives in Los Angeles, plays Hershel Greene in the television show, which is primarily filmed in the Senoia area.
Hershel had part of his leg amputated this season, to save him from certain death following a bite from a “walker,” and Wilson showed off his un-amputated leg to parade-goers.
The Santa’s Workshop was very successful, Helfman said. It was sponsored by the Coweta-Fayette Rotary Club. They brought three times as many craft supplies as they brought last year, and “they ran out, because the kids just loved it,” Helfman said.
Senoia’s holiday festivities continue this weekend with the city’s Candlelight Tour of Homes. The tour will be held Sunday from 5 to 8 p.m.
The tour features five historic homes, the Senoia United Methodist Church, and the Senoia Area Historical Society’s headquarters house and museum. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 on Sunday.
Four of the homes have never been seen on tour before, said Helfman. The fifth, the Travis-Price home at 348 Seavy Street, was on tour several years ago after it was restored but before the owners moved in.
The Senoia UMC chancel choir will perform concerts of seasonal music at 5:15 and 7:30 p.m. You do not have to be a ticket holder for the tour to visit the church and hear the concert, Helfman said.
Refreshments will be served at the Senoia Historical Society, 6 Couch St.
The other homes on the tour are the Stallings-Moye House, 132 Clark Street; Arnall-Divido House, 275 Johnson Street; Sims-Fant House, 36 Broad Street; and Shields-Tigchelaar House, 151 Main Street.
