Holiday Events in Ellijay, Georgia

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 07:13:03 PST

Christmas time in Ellijay, Ga. can be spectacular, particularly when you see all the wonderful things going on for the holiday season. Each year the downtown area hosts a 'Light Up Ellijay,' a celebration that begins with a parade and ends with the entire town being lit up with holiday decorations.

Think small town, old-fashioned Christmas, and you've got Ellijay. The parade naturally boasts floats from different school, community and business groups. If you have never been to a small town parade, Ellijay's one of the best example I have seen. There are clowns, Shriners flying around in tiny cars and students throwing candy to kids. It culminates with Santa Claus arriving a bit early, but making an appearance nonetheless.

Light Up Ellijay happens November 29 in the downtown square. Festivities begin at 6 p.m.

Another great event is the Gilmer County Bank holiday kick off and annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony. This takes place November 22, at the main branch of Gilmer County Bank on Industrial Blvd. in Ellijay. People can gather about, kids can meet with Santa (who arrives by helicopter, to give the reindeer the night off!), play with Mickey and Minnie and eat a whole lot of holiday goodness. Festivities begin at 5 p.m.

Gilmer High School will be hosting their annual holiday pageant December 4. The show begins at 7 p.m. in the Ellijay Elementary Auditorium, and takes audience members on a whirlwind ride around the globe to celebrate Christmas and the holidays. Led by teacher Brian Barrantine, the chorus features three groups: advanced choir, concert choir and treble choir. They will perform separately and together during this two-hour program. If you were fortunate enough to see their fall performance concert "Come Sail Away," then you know that this group is incredibly talented. If you missed it, don't miss this performance!

The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway will also be hosting a holiday special train ride through the Blue Ridge Mountains. The four-hour long train ride takes passengers through the Blue Ridge Mountains, from Blue Ridge, Ga. to Copperhill, Tn. The train will stop in McCaysville, Ga. to say hello to good old Santa Claus.

The Santa Claus Express will begin service Thanksgiving weekend and run on the weekends until Christmas. For all times and dates, check out their website atwww.brscenic.com.

This is just a small sampling of the events happening in and around Gilmer County, Ga. For more information, check the Ellijay newspaper, The Times-Courier, for other holiday events and celebrations.

OMG Santa, Is That You? An Extraordinary Tribute to the Man from the North Pole

Mon, 24 Dec 2007 06:07:41 PST

Santa Claus has turned into a full blown superstar, and all it takes in this holiday season is a bright red hat to get us thinking about Santa Claus and his memories from our past and into our childhood. Each year we see different pictures of Santa to remind us of what a colorful character he is, although everyone seems to have their own vision of what gives us that holiday feeling.

There are the classic Santas that look like they have just dropped in from the North Pole and there are funny Santas that make us laugh with that good old fashioned holiday spirit. There are dress-up Santas where everyone from cats and dogs, kids, a lizard and sexy babes put on that festive red pointy hat to get in the spirit of Christmas.

Then there is the weird stuff. There are Santa clones, Santa weirdos, crazy Santa toys, and some funny, strange, and alternative festive Santa Claus pictures and decorations that are not your every day Santa. Is he getting a little crazier every year, or maybe just a little weird? And what about that house full of elves?

OK, let's not get into all of the details but it is important to share this special tribute with the lady behind the man - we'll throw in something special to give due credit to the lady that makes her home with this celeb the other 364 days of the year - Mrs. Claus.

Yep, Santa is one of those stars that won't go away, he comes back every year and just seems to get hotter and hotter. The kind of guy that makes even the North Pole sound cool. So enjoy this Santa Claus extraordinaire, and get yourself into the holiday spirit.

Classic Santa Look

OK, we will at least start off with a few great shots of the classic Santa Claus, that jolly old man with a furry beard that blows in from the North Pole once every year on Christmas Eve.

Santa Christmas Pets

It seems that it only takes a red pointy hat placed on the head of our favorite pet to get us into the holiday frame of mind, although again, everyone has their own idea of what that holiday spirit is exactly...

OMG Santa, Is That You?

Santa is on his way, although once he gets here, he may look a little bit different than you remember him. Is that really the Santa Claus we know?

Is Santa Getting Weirder or What?

Maybe it is the long nights at the North Pole, maybe it is the isolation from mankind, or maybe it is that crazy band of elves he keeps around him, but it seems like Santa Claus has picked up a few crazy quirks and peculiarities along the way.

Everybody Wants to Be Santa Claus

In spite of what anyone may think, Santa Claus is still a very famous person, and everyone wants to be him. Some are a little more suited for becoming Santa impersonators than others, but every year, it seems that even more want to try on that famous costume.

Santa Claus is Cool

Like any other massive celebrity, Santa gets to hang out with the cool folks, and it seems that he is becoming hipper with every coming year.

A Tribute to Mrs. Claus

One of the reasons that we may have not considered for Santa's self imposed isolation on the North Pole is the fact that his wife Mrs. Claus is one hot babe, and Santa has a hard time leaving - knowing that he is leaving this lady home at night.

Crazy Santa Toys

Some of these are cute, some of these are a little bit unique, and a few of these are some of the weirdest Santa toys around.

Santa Claus