MACON, Ga. — The holiday season has arrived in Central Georgia, and there are plenty of winter-themed events perfect to get you into the holiday spirit. Here are some of the festivities you can look forward to in the Central Georgia area.
Centerville Christmas Parade
The city of Centerville will be holding its own Christmas parade on Saturday, Dec. 7. The parade - which features a theme of ‘Twas the night before Christmas’ - will start at 7 p.m., and will exit onto Houston Lake Road via the Galleria Mall Entrance. From there, it will proceed north on Houston Lake Road.
Christmas at the Mansion
The Old Governor’s Mansion in Milledgeville will be fully decorated for the holidays and offering tours nightly from Nov. 29 until Dec. 23. Candlelight tours are available on Dec. 7 and 21, and photos with Santa Claus are available on Dec. 13 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Reservations are required for all activities.
Christmas on the Sandersville Square
Sandersville will be kicking off the holiday season with ‘Christmas on the Square’ on the first Thursday of December. Activities for the night include a horse and carriage ride, a children’s parade and even an appearance from Saint Nick himself.
Cochran Christmas Parade
The city of Cochran will be throwing a Christmas parade on Friday, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. The parade will start at the corner of 3rd Street and Ann Street, and will proceed toward 2nd Street toward downtown. The parade will feature floats, marching bands, animals and more.
Fort Valley Holiday Market
On Friday, Nov. 29, Fort Valley’s Downtown Development Authority will be holding a pop-up holiday market in downtown Fort Valley from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The event will also feature a community Christmas tree lighting at 5:30 p.m.
Hawkinsville’s ‘12 Days of Christmas’
Hawkinsville is starting off the holiday season with a ‘12 Days of Christmas’ celebration on Saturday, Nov. 30. The festivities will include a Main Street Holiday Open House at 10 a.m., a lighted Christmas parade at 5:30 p.m. and a community Christmas tree lighting at 7 p.m.
Hay House Candlelight Tour
The Hay House in Macon will be holding two self-guided candlelit tours for the holiday season. The tours will take place on Dec. 6 and 14, and tourists can arrive any time between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Admission costs $20 per person.
Holiday on Hancock Street
On the first Friday of December, Milledgeville will be holding the annual lighting of its city Christmas Tree in an event lasting from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event will be held on Hancock Street in downtown Milledgeville, and will feature games, a Christmas tree lighting and photo opportunities with both the Grinch and Santa Claus.
Lake Sinclair Light Show
A yearly tradition at Lake Sinclair is to decorate the docks with colorful Christmas lights, and 2024 is keeping up with the trend. Lake Sinclair’s ‘Christmas Cove’ will be lighting up every night from Nov. 28 through Dec. 31, and putting on one of the most breathtaking displays in Central Georgia. The lights only come on after sunset, for maximum effect.
Lockerly in Lights
The Lockerly Arboretum in Milledgeville will be hosting light shows every Thursday, Friday and Saturday until Dec. 21. Thursday nights are drive-through only, and cost $15 cash to attend. Advance tickets are not available for Thursday, but are required for Friday and Saturday nights. Tickets on Friday and Saturday are for walk-through admittance, and cost $10 for adults, and $5 for children.
Macon Christmas Light Extravaganza
In downtown Macon, over 1,000,000 Christmas lights will dazzle during the night from Nov. 29 through Jan. 5, synchronized to some of your Christmas songs recorded by the Macon Pops.
Located in the heart of downtown Macon, the full, synchronized display takes place from 6 pm to 10 p.m., and between 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. the lights will beam downtown - but no dancing will happen.
Macon Christmas Parade
Macon will be holding its Christmas parade on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 4:00 p.m. The theme for this year’s event is “Macon Christmas Jolly,” and the course will run from the Historic Macon Terminal Station and then turn down Cherry Street to head toward Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Monroe County Christmas Parade
Monroe County will kick off its Christmas parade on Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. on Tift College Drive, running right through the heart of downtown Forsyth. Expect local bands, schools and other organizations to put together a festive procession for the whole county to enjoy.
Milledgeville Christmas Parade
On Dec. 7 at 1:00 p.m., the Exchange Club of Milledgeville will be presenting their annual Milledgeville Christmas Parade. The downtown Milledgeville event is free to the public, and they say a certain jolly red Claus will be making an appearance.
Perry Christmas Parade
On Saturday, Dec. 7, Perry will hold a Christmas parade starting at 10:00 a.m.. The parade’s theme is ‘An Old-Fashioned Christmas,’ and it is scheduled to run through Historic Downtown Perry.
Reindeer Flight School
Milledgeville will be hosting a Reindeer Flight School nightly from Dec. 11 through Dec. 25. The festivities begin at 6:00 p.m. each night, and feature over 40,000 lights, flying reindeer and more. Show up to 101 Sportsmans Club Road Northeast, and be sure to pack a camera for all of the photo opportunities you’ll find.
Warner Robins Christmas Parade
Warner Robins will be holding a Christmas parade starting at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7. The parade’s theme is “Christmas in Toyland” and will march from Davis Drive and Watson Boulevard toward North Houston Road.
Warner Robins Tree Lighting Ceremony
Warner Robins will start off its holiday festivities with a tree lighting ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 5. The ceremony will start at 5 p.m. at Perkins Field, and will feature live music, drinks and a countdown to the holiday season.
Warner Robins Winter Bazaar
Warner Robins will continue the holiday spirit with a winter bazaar on Saturday, Dec. 7 from noon until 4 p.m. The bazaar will be located at Perkins Field, and will feature a selection of unique holiday gifts and delicious treats.