VALDOSTA — Valdosta Main Street’s Holiday Open House on Dec. 6 will showcase the unique and magical fun and flare of Downtown Valdosta. Beginning at 8:30 a.m. with the first of three breakfast events with Santa, and ending with the traditional Greater Valdosta Community Christmas Parade, the Holiday Open House will once again have something for Valdostans of all ages.

“The Holiday Open House gives us a great opportunity to focus on the variety of goods and services offered by our unique downtown businesses,” said Valdosta Main Street Director Ellen Hill. “Main Street invites our faithful patrons, as well as all area visitors, to celebrate this festive time together as a community.”

In addition to the variety of restaurants and specialty shops open throughout the day, activities going on during the Holiday Open House event are as follows:

• Breakfast with Santa at the Bleu Cafe will take place at 8:30, 9:45 and 11 a.m. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for kids. Call Bleu Café at (229) 244-2248 for reservations.
• Visits and photo opportunities with Santa will begin at 11 a.m. on the front lawn of the historic Lowndes County Courthouse.
• Musical entertainment is provided in front of the courthouse steps.
• The Kids Play area features bounce houses and a “snow” zone.
• Stuff Your Stocking (children’s activity) when citizens visit downtown merchants.
• Cruise in by the South Georgia Classic Car Club from 1-3 p.m.
• Pet adoptions are available on the courthouse lawn.
• First Presbyterian Church will host a Bazaar and Bake Sale. Call (229) 242-8376 for more information.
• The Camellia Show at First United Methodist Church will be open to the public from 1 p.m. – 6 p.m. Call (229) 242-6416 for more information.

The Greater Valdosta Community Christmas Parade—one of our region’s most popular holiday traditions—will begin at 5 p.m., at Woodrow Wilson Drive, proceed down N. Patterson Street, and end at the Bank of America Building. This year’s parade theme is “Candy Canes and Christmas Carols.” Creative holiday floats will be judged on overall appearance, special effects, creativity, workmanship and use of the theme.

Some streets will be closed downtown during the celebration. Central Avenue and Valley Street, between Patterson and Ashley Streets, will be closed from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. North Patterson Street, beginning at Woodrow Wilson Drive through Hill Avenue will be closed for the Christmas parade. The city urges all motorists and pedestrians to be extra cautious during the busy festivities and offers the following parking options for citizens to consider:

• Toombs Street parking lot has several dozen parking spaces.
• Ample parking is available in the McKey Street parking lot, located across from the Valdosta City Hall.
• Public parking lots are also available on Savannah Avenue, between Lee and N. Oak Streets.
• Following the Greater Valdosta Christmas Parade, the reopening of N. Patterson Street will once again open up these street parking options to downtown patrons.

For more information on any of these activities, call (229) 259-3577 or visit www.valdostamainstreet.com.  You can also visit our Community Calendar on Valdosta Today.