Here at Great Sky, we feel very fortunate to call Canton our home. In Canton, both residents and visitors alike can enjoy the town’s unique blend of shopping, dining, local events, art, parks and—most importantly—people! Downtown Canton is a historic district with lasting traditions, and now that the holiday season is in full swing, there are even more ways to enjoy what’s right in your backyard. To make it even easier for you, we’ve put together a list of several ways you and your loved ones can enjoy all that Canton has to offer this time of year. Think: hot chocolate, meet-and-greets with Santa Claus, live music, creative workshops and more—all with the beautiful backdrop of twinkling lights and holiday décor.
Santa Visits Great Sky
You won’t want to miss out on this signature Great Sky tradition! On December 16th from 5:30-7:30pm, family, friends and neighbors in our community are invited to enjoy hot cocoa, bonfires and s’mores while they engage in holiday crafts and music…plus a visit from Santa Claus himself! Make sure you bring your Christmas wish list and camera to this wonderful holiday celebration.
Get to Know Canton
Kick off the holiday season on Saturday, December 3rd with The City of Woodstock’s Christmas Jubilee and Parade of Lights! The parade will commence at 5:30pm, and winning float designs will be announced by the Mayor and Santa afterward—right as they flip the switch to light the town’s 30’ Christmas tree! There will be food and entertainment for all, with crafts for kids, a live DJ, hot cocoa, apple cider and free cupcake decorating running until 9pm. Not to mention the beautiful holiday window displays at the Historic Jones Building! Between the festival and the plethora of local businesses, this event is also a great excuse to start your Christmas shopping early.
The Mill on Etowah provides plenty of opportunities for you to eat, drink and be merry all season long! Throughout the month of December, “Rink on the River” ice skating will be open to the public, with tickets available for purchase in advance or on-site. The Mill’s “Fermented” Series also offers several tasting sessions in December, with themes ranging from your favorite holiday red wines to classic Christmas cocktails. Feeling creative? You can also buy tickets to M&M Mercantile’s “Let it Snow” paint party, a workshop that will provide all the instruction, refreshments and materials you need to paint a fun winter scene on a wooden snow globe door hanger.
The eighth annual March of the Toys Parade in Ball Ground, Georgia is an event not to be missed. In addition to marching bands, antique cars, dance groups, NFL cheerleaders and decorative floats, the parade has a history of surprising onlookers with an impressive variety of dressed-up fictional characters ranging from superheroes and villains to Disney princesses and Star Wars droids. After the parade, children can have their photos taken with their favorite characters while they wait for Mr. and Mrs. Claus to make their official town visit to City Park. This year’s parade will take place on December 2nd; attendees are being asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy for the Toys for Tots campaign.
Further Down the Road
Why deal with busy airports and long drives when, just down the road, a remote “staycation” awaits? At Barnsley Resort you’ll find a dazzling display of over one million holiday lights accompanied by festive décor and a variety of holiday-themed, family-friendly events. As you explore the historic 1800’s manor house ruins, surrounding gardens and English-style village, be sure to set aside time for ornament decorating, gingerbread house making, holiday movie night screenings and more.
This year’s Jingle Jog at The Hotel at Avalon is not to be missed! The kid-focused event will commence with an untimed, one-mile roundtrip fun run alongside Santa himself. Be prepared for surprises along the route! As kids cross the finish line, they will be met with a bouncy house, face-painting, hands-on craft stations and—of course—s’mores and hot chocolate. Families will also be able to enjoy a very special holiday brunch, complete with a shortened Nutcracker performance by the Atlanta Dance Theatre. All proceeds from this event will benefit The Summit Counseling Center, whose mission is to remove the stigma surrounding children’s mental health.
At the Georgia Festival of Vendors in Marietta, you can find unique Christmas gifts for everyone on your list—just in time for the holidays! This family-friendly event, which will be taking place on December 10th between 10am-5pm, is free to attend and will feature giveaways, prizes and swag bags at the door. As you browse through handmade wreaths, clothing, makeup, jewelry, woodwork, pottery and more, you can also enjoy a sweet treat from one of the holiday-themed food vendors! In addition to shopping, there will be a “Christmas Magic” show and an appearance from Santa himself. Mark your calendars in advance, and make sure to bring a toy or two to donate to the “Toys for Tots”” drive!
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