ChristmasFest 2016 Information

News Release

Release: Immediate
Contact: Sharon Crosby/City of Toccoa
Date: November 14, 2016

Re: Christmas Fest


Toccoa, GA November 14, 2016 - Main Street Toccoa will sponsor the seventh annual Christmas Fest and Festival of Trees on December 2 – 3, 2016 in historic downtown Toccoa. Many activities will take place during this special weekend.

The downtown streets will be turned into a magical place Friday night December 2 at 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. as Santa will greet the young and old alike. He will be there to talk with the children and for the children to get their pictures taken with him. Santa’s Express train, a horse and carriage ride, and a live nativity will be a part of this special evening.

Christmas entertainment will begin at 5:00– 8:00 and will be located at the intersection of Tugalo St. and Sage St. under the city’s Christmas tree. The lighting of the tree will be at 8:00 p.m.

For those who like to shop, several downtown businesses and restaurants will be open with special sales and refreshments during the evening.

The Christmas Sage Market will be located in the Star Theater at 47 W Doyle St. It will be open on Friday from 3:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Over twenty local artists and crafters will have Christmas decorations as well as Christmas gifts.

Beautifully decorated trees will be on display at the Festival of Trees located in the Stephens County Historic Courthouse. Beginning on Wednesday, November 30 until Thursday, December 1, visitors will be able to view the trees from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., and 8:00 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. on Friday, December 2. Visitors may vote on their favorite tree Friday evening and Saturday afternoon.

On Saturday morning, December 3, the X-Factor Grill will be offering a Breakfast with Santa from 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Price is $5.00. The Christmas Sage Market will be open from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

There will be ice skating again this year during the Christmas Fest and throughout the entire month of December. The rink will be located on Tugalo St in the parking lot. Starting on Dec. 2, 3pm- 9pm, it will continue throughout the month of December. Each Friday it will be open from 3 pm – 9 pm, Saturday, 10 am – 9 pm, and Sundays, 1 pm – 8 pm. The fee is $10 per hour.

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Historic Plaque Ceremony- DDS Building

Press Release

Release: Immediate

Contact:  Christian Hamilton, 706.898.5777

RE: Completed Installation of Historic Plaque at Department of Driver Services

TOCCOA, GA – On Thursday, November 10, 2016, the Department of Driver Services (DDS) received the first historic plaque in the 2016-2017 series of plaques dedicated to downtown buildings. The ceremony took place at 5:00 p.m. in front of the DDS building to celebrate the history of the Martha Park Dress Shop.

This Doyle Street location was originally constructed in 1900 and may best be known for its vast, open bay windows. The Martha Park Dress Shop is also unique in that its storefront was partially made up of a corrugated, blue-and-white patterned tile not usually seen in a typical downtown landscape dominated almost entirely by brick facades. Throughout the latter half of the 20^th Century, this dress shop catered to only the finest in women’s fashion. A landmark in the history of Downtown Toccoa, many citizens have fond memories of their times in the Martha Park Dress Shop.

The ceremony was brief and memorable, with a crowd drawing from the Toccoa Historic Preservation Commission, Promotions Committee, downtown business practitioners, community members, and Main Street staff. Pictured from left to right are Ms. Vicky King, Ms. Nicole Isom, Mrs. Connie Tabor, Mr. Thurston Estes, and Mr. Patrick and Mrs. Marilyn Hall.

For further questions, please contact Christian Hamilton at the Main Street Office in City Hall at 706.898.5777. 

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Festival of Trees for 2016

News Release

Release: Immediate
Re: 2016 Festival of Trees
Date: November 7, 2016
Contact: Sharon Crosby

2016 Festival of Trees

Tocccoa, GA – November 3, 2016 - Local businesses and civic groups are already busy planning
their entries in the 2016 Festival of Trees. This year will be the 9 th year that businesses and civic
groups have helped local charities through decorating a Christmas tree during 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.
The trees will be on display November 30 th through December 3 rd in the Stephens County Historic
Courthouse. Businesses, civic groups, schools, individuals, families, or non-profit organizations
are invited to decorate and display a tree. The public will vote on their favorite Christmas tree for
one dollar a vote. All proceeds will go to a non-profit organization. The tree with the highest
amount earned will receive the Grand Prize for their non-profit organization.

The decorated trees will be on display in the Courthouse starting Wednesday, November 30 –
December 3, 8 am – 5 pm. The voting will take place in conjunction with the 2016 Toccoa
Christmas Fest, held the evening of December 2 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm and Saturday,
December 6 th from 12 noon to 4 pm.

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” of $500.

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

Family Health Walk

Press Release

Release: Immediate

Contact: Sharon Crosby

Date: October 31, 2016

Re: Family Health Walk

Downtown Family Health Walk

Toccoa, GA October 31, 2016 – Main Street Toccoa is partnering with Stephens County Connections to sponsor a health walk around downtown Toccoa, Sunday, November 13 at 3:00 pm. on the City Loop Trail.

The walk will start at the Historic Depot and follow the trail for either a one mile walk or a two mile walk. Trailheads indicating the route are located at Rotary Park and the Toccoa Depot. There are also eight blue directional signs directing the walkers along the route. 

Special Events Coordinator, Sharon Crosby said, “This will be a nice Sunday afternoon walk for the family. We encourage families to come out and enjoy the afternoon with family and friends.” For more information, please call 706-282-3309.