Walk off Thanksgiving dinner in downtown Ellijay
The Friday after Thanksgiving is a perfect time to find community and fun at the Merry Mountain Town Festival.
“I think it’s going to be a good event to come to with all the family, because there’s gonna be so many different things to do,” Gilmer County Chamber of Commerce Communications Manager Nohemi Reynoso said.
Before the event, parade-goers can attend the festival downtown starting at noon. It will feature arts, crafts, hot chocolate, coffee and a food truck. The festival will end at 7 p.m.
On Broad Street, kids can take photos with Santa for $10 from noon to 5 p.m. Free face painting will also be available until 5 p.m.
Proceeds from the Santa photos will go to the Gilmer County Animal Shelter.
The parade will feature local churches, children’s groups, and more marching on Nov. 28 at 6 p.m. All these events are free.
The parade will continue for about 45 minutes, she said.
After the event, people can take part in rating 18 local businesses participating in a decorating competition.
The first 100 people to take the self-guided decorating tour will get a special Merry Mountain Town mug.
Attendees can also get some Christmas shopping done at local stores downtown.
This year is the first time the Chamber of Commerce is running the parade.
“We were notified about five weeks ago that we were taking this on,” Reynoso said.
As a result of this fast turnaround, the parade won’t feature local school organizations.
“We’re really excited to put it together and collaborate with some of the downtown businesses as well as bring this community together once again after the Thanksgiving holiday,” Reynoso said.