On Dec. 4, hundreds of people came to downtown Dawsonville to watch the Christmas parade, shop in the Jingle Market and participate in the tree lighting ceremony during the city’s ninth annual Christmas event. 

The event kicked off at 4 p.m. with the city’s annual Christmas parade. Spectators lined the streets as dozens of groups, businesses and individuals drove colorful decorated floats around downtown Dawsonville and down the first part of highway 53, shouting “Merry Christmas”, waving and throwing candy and other goodies to the children watching. 

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From 4 to 8 p.m., local vendors set up in front of Dawsonville City Hall to participate in the Dawson County Chamber of Commerce Jingle Market, allowing attendees to go from booth to booth shopping for unique Christmas gifts, decorations and much more. Also during the event, families were able to take photos with Santa and purchase concessions from several food trucks at the farmers market pavilion. 

At 6 p.m., Dawson County Chamber of Commerce President Mandy Power presented awards to some of the best floats in the Christmas parade and prizes to the winners of a competition allowing local students to decorate the windows of the city hall and the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame. 

Then Dawsonville City Council Member Will Illg and Brian Haas, lead pastor of Local Church Dawson, introduced the annual tree lighting. Everyone in attendance participated in counting down from 10, cheering and clapping as the giant tree in front of City Hall was illuminated. 

The evening ended with live entertainment from several local groups, including the handbell ringers with First Baptist Church of Cumming, the worship band from Local Church Dawson, the Tiger Chorus, and the dancers from Sole Impulse Dance Studio.