Toccoa Christmas Fest 2011

Toccoa, GA, November 28, 2011 – The city of Toccoa will be welcoming in the Christmas season on December 2 – 3, 2011 in the Historic Downtown area. The fourth annual Christmas fest will begin at 5:30 p.m. until 8:30.

Take in the sounds of the holiday season during this special evening. This year there will be Victorian Carolers who will stroll down the streets and in the stores throughout the evening, serenading the shoppers. A beautiful carriage will take you through the town’s historic district to see the beautifully lit streets. The carriage rides are $1 for children and $3 per adult and begin on Doyle St near the Toccoa Record.

The live nativity will allow the children to enter into the stall, pet the animals and experience what it may have been like on the first Christmas.

Santa will be located on Doyle St for visits and pictures and to take the children’s letters. Also for the children, Santa’s Express train will take the little riders around the town. Rides are $3.00 per person.

The Festival of Trees will be in the Stephens County Historic Courthouse from 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. on Friday and noon to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. With ten beautifully decorated trees, visitors will be able to vote for their favorite. Entrance is free but it is $1.00 per vote. Proceeds of the contest will go to the charity or nonprofit organization represented. The winning tree will receive a grand prize sponsored by local businesses. Classic guitarist, John Oliverus will perform throughout the evening in the courtroom.

Special entertainment will be performed at the stage located in front of the city Christmas Tree on the courthouse lawn. The Rhythm Academy Dance School will perform at 6:00 p.m. followed by the local group, Ray of Hope.

At 7:30 p.m. City Commissioner Bob Troup will count down from 10 to 1 and the city tree will be lit for the 2011 Christmas season. This year the tree will be on Sage St across from the Whistle Stop caboose.

For more information go to www.mainstreet.com or call 706-282-3309.

2011 Festival of Trees

Local businesses and civic groups are invited to help their favorite non-profit organization by sponsoring a Christmas tree at the Festival of Trees. “This is a great way for our local businesses to give back to the community through helping our local non-profits,” stated Sharon Crosby, Special Events Coordinator for Toccoa.

Participants must provide a decorated tree, with lights, that will be on display in the Historic Stephens County Courthouse from Friday, Dec. 2 through Saturday, Dec. 3. The group will be responsible to take down the tree by Dec. 5.

The decorated trees will be on display in the Courthouse in conjunction with the 2011 Toccoa ChristmasFest, held the evening of December 2 from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm and Saturday December 3 from 12 noon to 4pm.

The public will then cast a vote for their favorite Christmas tree, for a cost of $1 per vote. Each non-profit organization will keep their proceeds. The tree receiving the most votes will win the “grand prize.”

For more information or for an application, please call the Main Street office at 706-282-3309 or go to www.mainstreettoccoa.com.

Main Street Historic Plaques Program

The Toccoa Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has begun a historic plaques program to highlight ten historic buildings in downtown Toccoa. The plaques will be placed at the ten historic buildings over the next ten months. Each one will be unveiled at a ceremony the first Thursday of the month at 5 PM. The ten properties were selected by the DDA as they reflect the interesting and diverse history of downtown Toccoa. The City of Toccoa has funds set aside in the Main Street budget for the cost of the plaques, which are provided to the downtown businesses at no charge.

The history of these ten buildings will be highlighted in a walking tour that will feature the plaques. The history of these buildings will also be discussed in a podcast to accompany the walking tour. Main Street has developed the historic plaques program to create more interest in downtown and its history with local residents and visitors. Main Street Information and Graphics Specialist, Katy Sides said “the historic plaques program will be a great way to create awareness and excitement about the interesting history of downtown Toccoa.”

The first historic plaque was unveiled Thursday, November 3, 2011 at The Studio in downtown. The plaque at the Studio was the first plaque unveiled, as this is the oldest building in downtown Toccoa, and dates to when Toccoa was still part of Habersham County. The building, circa 1857, was best known as the Acree Mitchell Grocery Store. It was originally a free-standing building and a popular gathering place for early Toccoa residents. Since then, the building has been a Masonic Lodge and is currently an art gallery. The bricks used in its construction are hand-made and you can still see horsehair in some of the bricks. The building also features wide plank wood floors upstairs.

The next plaque will be dedicated at The Toccoa Record on December 1 at 5 PM. Everyone is invited to attend the plaque dedication. Please contact the Main Street Office staff for further information.