Residents Can Wear Tacky Christmas Sweaters at Friday Night Live

The cities of Canton, Holly Springs and Ball Ground aren’t the only municipalities in Cherokee County planning to ring in the holiday season this weekend.

The city of Woodstock on Saturday will once again host its annual Christmas Jubilee and Parade of Lights on Saturday in the downtown area.

For those who can’t wait until Saturday for some Christmas fun, the city’s monthly festival — Friday Night Live — will return Dec. 5. Residents are encouraged to dress in their tacky Christmas sweaters at the event for a chance to win a $100 downtown Woodstock gift certificate.

Residents can simply stop by the Woodstock Visitors Center to have their pictures taken in your tacky Christmas sweater. The public next week will cast votes to pick the winner of the contest.

Plus, several downtown merchants are offering special deals to anyone wearing a tacky Christmas sweater at the event. Friday Night Live will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and features the perfect chance to shop for Christmas gifts for friends and loved ones.

Saturday’s celebration will start 2 p.m. with a free performance by Elm Street Arts of A Christmas Carol at the Chambers at City Center. Attendees can bring a can of stew, chili, chunky soup or peanut butter as a entry ticket to benefit Woodstock-based Papa’s Pantry. Food vendors will set up at the Park at City Center starting at 4:30 p.m. ahead of the parade, which will start at 5:30 p.m.

Saturday’s annual parade, which has a new route, will begin and end at Woodstock Elementary School on Rope Mill Road.

The new route will have parade marchers go:

• South on Rope Mill and onto Main Street;
• Right onto Towne Lake Parkway;
• Left onto Mill Street;
• Right onto Market Street;
• Left onto Fowler Street;
• Left onto Main Street and continue onto Rope Mill Road where the parade will end at the school.

Woodstock was forced to make the change since its typical starting part — the parking lot of the old Walmart building on Highway 92 at Main Street — will be off limits, as Sam’s Club will soon start construction to renovate the building for use.

For more information about the city’s parade, contact the Woodstock Parks and Recreation Department at (770) 517-6788. For more information about Friday Night Live, call the Woodstock Visitors Center at Dean’s Store at (770) 924-0406.

Credit: Main Street Woodstock/2013 Christmas Jubilee and Parade of Lights