The annual First Friday Tree Lighting will occur at 6 p.m., Dec. 6, rain or shine.
All patrons are encouraged to enjoy the event as Mayor Mary Parham Copelan showcases a glowing downtown as the tree, donated and decorated by Fowler Flemister and Custom Signs and Designs, is lit up.
Each year, Milledgeville Main Street, in partnership with Visit Milledgeville, hosts a window decorating contest with the downtown businesses. The winner, who will get $200 in Milly Money, will be announced at the tree lighting.
Immediately following the tree lighting, patrons can watch some of the community’s talented youth perform in the street. There will be children from the Early Learning Center, Midway Hills and Lakeview Academy’s Dazzling Diamonds, and Georgia College & State University Dance entertaining the crowds. Santa Claus will be at Exchange Bank, at 250 W. Hancock St., for Cookies with Santa. Just across the parking lot, Visit Milledgeville, at 200 W. Hancock St., will have the cynical, grumpy Grinch at the Visitor’s Center for pictures, cookies, and fun.
Allens Market, located at 101 West McIntosh St., will have a Milledgeville Holiday Giving Market for patrons to shop for symbolic gifts to support over 10 Milledgeville non-profits. The Market will also feature kid crafts, hot cocoa and Thunder Santa pictures.
On Saturday, the Exchange Club Christmas Parade will be held downtown at 1 p.m. The 2024 Merry Milly Market will be open Sunday Dec. 8 at 10 a.m. with outdoor vendors on site in the Deep Roots Mural parking lot.
Then, on Sunday at 3:30 p.m., Georgia Military College will host the GMC Junior College Semifinal Playoff game, as the GMC Bulldogs take on Hutchinson Community College from Kansas.
Milledgeville Main Street offers special thanks to its title sponsor Five Star Automotive Group, champions sponsors Fickling Lake Country Realty, WMVG 104.5, RestoPro, Kinetic, Nellys Pet Resort, and to Exchange Bank, the City of Milledgeville Public Works and Fire Departments, the downtown merchants, the Georgia College Department of Theatre and Dance, Lakeview Academy Dance Team, Oak Hill Middle School Dance Team, Visit Milledgeville, Custom Signs and Designs ,and Fowler Flemister for making this First Friday possible.
For more information about First Friday or how to get involved, contact Milledgeville Main Street by phone at 478-414-4014 or by email mainstreetdesk@milledgevillega.us.
– Contributed