Newton County residents kicked off the Christmas season last week with a series of parades and holiday events spread throughout the county.
The holiday festivities launched Tuesday in Newton with the Newton Chamber of Commerce Christmas Tree Lighting in Raphael Payne Park.
Emily Pugh, director for Newton Chamber, said the new Christmas event was a great success with many in the community coming out to sing Christmas carols, meet friends and participate in the tree lighting.
On Thursday, Newton Chamber built on that success with the annual Newton Christmas Parade, which featured more than 20 businesses, clubs and organizations. This year’s theme was the “Magic of Christmas”
The first-place winner for the Newton parade was the City of Newton, which entered its holiday themed float. Second place was taken by BankFirst, and Newton Career Center took home third place.
A new award this year, the Kid’s Choice Award, decided by a panel of local students, was also given to the City of Newton.
Friday, the Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce followed its neighbor with the annual Decatur Christmas Parade, featuring floats, walking groups and motorcycles, as well as this year’s Grand Marshall, Eleanor Russell and the Decatur Man of the Year, Roy Chambers.
Mark Buntyn, president of the Decatur Chamber, said this year’s parade was well attended, with crowds lining both sides of Broad Street.
“It’s a great turnout,” he said.
This year, the first-place parade entry was awarded the Merita Cherry Spirit of Christmas Award, a new award honoring the memory of Decatur resident Merita Cherry, who died earlier in the year.
The winner of that award was Robinson Dental for its float, “Frozen”, featuring Elsa, Olaf and other characters from the popular Disney film.
The following day brought three more Christmas events. Whistlestop Marketplace, at the Historic Newton Depot, brought the community out to browse gifts from more than a dozen vendors, drink hot chocolate, cider and coffee, and enter a raffle to win a La-Z-Boy chair.
Hickory Christmas Parade, Saturday afternoon, drew residents from across the county to see Newton and Newton County bands, Hickory Police and Fire departments, local businesses and of course Santa Claus.
The Town of Union capped off Saturday festivities with the Union Christmas Parade, which wound through downtown.
The first-place winner of Union’s parade was Union Public School District’s Transportation Department for its float, “Frosty the Snowbus.” A close second, Robinson Dental again was recognized for its float, “Frozen.” Performance Therapy of Philadelphia followed in third place with its “Misfit Toys” float.
Wrapping up the Christmas festivities were Newton United Methodist Church, which performed a living nativity for the community Sunday night, and the Town of Sebastopol’s Small Town Christmas.
Sebastopol Mayor Greg McGarrity said it was only the second year for the event, but already it had grown to be one of the town’s largest.
“It’s tonight, and just being together,” he said, addressing the crowd gathered at Bishop Park “that we can celebrate the birth divine.”
