This weekend will bring holiday festivities to downtown Dawsonville with the city's annual parade and Christmas tree lighting on Saturday.
In addition, an entire day of events are planned around the city for families and children to participate in and get into the Christmas spirit.
The first stop on Santa's agenda the morning of Dec. 3 is the Breakfast with Santa event at Rock Creek Park. The event will be held from 8 to 11 a.m. inside the rec center.
A free-to-attend event, Breakfast with Santa is hosted annually by Dawson County Parks and Recreation where families can stop by, purchase Chick-fil-A biscuits and drinks and let their children participate in all of the free activities.
The event will include crafts and games, a bounce house, carriage rides and more.
Boy Scouts of Dawsonville Troop 422 and Dawson County High School FCCLA will be helping elves at the event. Bradley's Pumpkin Patch will create a winter wonderland by providing eight to 10 Christmas trees that will be available for sale after the event is over. Photo packages with Santa will also be available for purchase.
A LifeSouth Community Blood Center mobile unit will also be parked out front of the rec center and will be accepting donations throughout the event.
The Margie Weaver Senior Center, located in the same complex as Veteran's Memorial Park in Dawsonville, will also be holding an event on Saturday.
The center will be hosting a Christmas Bazaar and Art Show from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. The bazaar will feature several booths and vendors selling homemade crafts like pillows, blankets, art, metal sculptures, woodwork and more. The quilt that the senior center has been selling tickets for will also be raffled off at the bazaar.
An art show program will be held at noon, recognizing the senior art show class and the student of the year.
A similarly themed Jingle Market will be held at the Dawsonville Municipal Complex in the Georgia Racing Hall of Fame from 3 to 8 p.m. The market will contain vendors selling home decor, arts, crafts, gifts and more.
Perhaps the most anticipated event of the day, the Christmas parade, will begin at the municipal complex at 5 p.m. and circle through downtown Dawsonville.
Now in its fourth year, the chamber of commerce-sponsored parade is the true testament that the holidays are here. With floats from various local organizations, churches and businesses, the parade is fun for the whole family.
Immediately following the parade, the city will have its annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the municipal complex. The event will include live carolers and entertainment, complimentary hot chocolate and refreshments, as well as children's activities. Children there will have another opportunity for photos with Santa.