Christmas in Forsyth 2024
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23RD, 10 A.M. TO 5 P.M.
Cumming City Center
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 23RD, 6-7 P.M.
(Sponsored by Local Church Forsyth, Featuring Music by Will & The Exclamation)
THURSDAYS, FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS AT 7:30 P.M., SUNDAYS AT 2:30 P.M. DECEMBER 6TH – 22ND
(Purchase Tickets at schoolstreetplayhouse.com)
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14TH, 5PM
Forsyth Central High School to the Cumming Fairgrounds via Tribble Gap/ Castleberry Road CITY OF CUMMING
From Christmas Past
FCN File Photos (Josh harrison, Lynda Hinton, Bottoms Tree Farm, Halcyon)
Forsyth County Events
Christmas with Santa
A family event for all ages and abilities! Make your way through Santa’s workshop to decorate cookies, prepare reindeer snacks, make ornaments and visit with Santa. Pre-registration recommended, but walk-ins are welcome. Register at https://parks. forsythco.com/
When: Saturday, Dec. 7, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Where: Central Park Recreation Center, 2300 Keith Bridge Road
How much: $5.00/child; $12/family
Senior Breakfast
Join us for donuts, coffee, bagels and other breakfast treats during the Senior Breakfast
When: Friday, Dec. 13, 8-11 a.m.
Central Park Recreation Center, 2300 Keith Bridge Road
How much: Free
Handmade for the Holidays
What: The annual holiday craft market featuring local crafters selling homemade items.
When: Saturday, Dec. 14, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Where: Central Park Recreation Center, 2300 Keith Bridge Road
How much: Free admission; goods available for purchase
City of Cumming Events
2024 City of Cumming Christmas Parade
What: The 7th Annual City of Cumming Christmas Parade is a crowd favorite as it winds through downtown Cumming from Forsyth Central to the Cumming Fairgrounds!
When: Saturday, Dec. 14, 5-6:30 p.m.
Where: Forsyth Central High School facing Tribble Gap, makes its way through Cumming Square down Castleberry Road to the Cumming Fairgrounds
How much: Free
FCN File Photos
Santa’sWonderlandWinter
VISIT WITH SANTA
Suite 368 next to Jos A Bank
Nov. 23rd: Sunset- 8 PM
Dec. 1st, Dec. 7th-8th, Dec. 14th-15th, Dec. 21st-22nd: 1 PM - 4 PM
Complimentary Photographs with Santa
We will be collecting toys every weekend during Santa’s Photo Workshop hours.
Tree Lighting TRAIN RIDES
Santa’s Photo Workshop: 6 PM - 8 PM Live Reindeer, Entertainment, Christmas Music, Winter Wonderland Train Rides, Airbrush Tattoos, Bounce House, Crafts, Balloon Twister, and Santa lights the tree!
Free Photographs with Santa Suite 368 next to Jos A Bank
We will be collecting toys every weekend during Santa’s Photo Workshop hours.
Follow @collectionforsyth on social media for more event updates
Cumming City Center Events
Life South Season of Giving Blood Drive
What: Be a part of the Life South Season of Giving Blood Drive at the Cumming City Center! As a token of appreciation, every donor will receive a $20 e-gift card, and those who choose to donate double reds will be rewarded with a $40 e-gift card! Don’t miss this opportunity to make a meaningful impact—register today and give the gift of life! For more details and to secure your spot, visit https://donors.lifesouth.org/…/ drive_schedule/849604.
When: Thursday, Nov. 21, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Road
How much: Free
Cumming City Center Winter Market
What: Kick off the holiday season and shop for unique and beautifully curated items at the Winter Pop-Up Market, in partnership with Pieces and Peaches.
When: Saturday, Nov. 23, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where:
Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Road
How much: Free admission, merchandise available for purchase
Cumming City Center Tree Lighting
What: Christmas Tree Lighting with live
music from Will & The Exclamation, family activities, warm beverages and desserts from local vendors. Sponsored by Local Church Forsyth.
When: Saturday, Nov. 23, 6-7:30 p.m.
Where: Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Road
How much: Free
Cumming Christmas Jingle Jog 5k & Family Fun Run
What: Join us for the annual Jingle Jog at the Cumming City Center! Get in the holiday spirit with this fun event featuring a 5K and 1K Kids Fun Run. There will be awards for race times, prizes for the best costume, decorated stroller, most festive and more! Proceeds from this race go to Forsyth County Community Connection to support foster children and their families. Register at: https:// runsignup.com/Race/GA/Cumming/ CummingChristmasJingleJog5K
When: Sunday, Dec. 15, 8:30 a.m.
Where: Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Road
How much: $25-$35 (plus fees)
Santa Shuffle 5k & Fun Run
What: Join us for the Santa Shuffle 5K & Kids Fun Run on Christmas Eve morning! All Donations will support the National Alliance for Mental Illness Forsyth, Dawson, Lumpkin. During registration, you can purchase an ornament for $7.99. Please note that we will not have extra ornaments at the event, so don’t miss out! Race Registration will be available online until sold out: https://runsignup.com/Race/ Events/GA/Cumming/TheSantaShuffle5k
When: Tuesday, Dec. 24, at 8:30 a.m.
Where: Cumming City Center, 423 Canton Road
How much: $25-$35 (plus fees)
Image courtesy of Cumming City Center
Performing Arts
School Street Playhouse presents “A Christmas Carol”
What: The holiday classic “A Christmas Carol” stage production based on the novel by Charles Dickens.
When: Dec. 6-22; Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m., Sundays at 2:30 p.m.
Where: School Street Playhouse, 101 School Street in Cumming
How much: $31.75 - $36.75 including fee (schoolstreetplayhouse. com for tickets).
Sawnee Ballet Theatre presents: The Nutcracker
What: Enjoy the classic Christmas ballet depicting the story of a young girl who goes on a magical journey on Christmas Eve. Performed by Sawnee Ballet Theatre for more than 30 years in Forsyth County, this production has become a local holiday tradition.
When: Dec. 7 & 14 at 7:30 p.m., Dec. 8 & 15 at 2 p.m.
Where: FoCAL Center, 1150 Dahlonega Highway, Cumming
How much: $25-$30 plus fees (https://ci.ovationtix.com/36371/ production/1196805 for tickets)
Charities
Aerial’s House
The Forsyth County Fire Department is hosting the 22nd Annual Aerial’s House Toy and Coat Drive this year, in partnership with The Place of Forsyth County.
The drive was started by retired Forsyth County Fire Chief Danny Bowman during the 2002 Christmas season in response to learning of the surprising number of children in Forsyth County that did not receive or could not be provided with gifts by their families each year.
Toys are needed to fit all age groups, from newborn through 18 years old. Gift cards for retailers are also accepted. New, unwrapped toys and clean, lightly worn winter coats can be dropped off in the black bins at all Forsyth County Fire Stations, Fire Department Headquarters, and all Forsyth County Public Library branches through Saturday, Dec. 7.
Visit https://www.forsythco. com/Departments-Offices/FireDepartment/Locations to find a listing of fire station locations.
The Fire Department Headquarters is located at 3520 Settingdown Road in Cumming, GA
Ashebrooke Night of Lights
The Ashebrooke Night of Lights will be held this year on Sunday, December 15, beginning at 6 p.m. Since 2006, each year neighbors come together and light luminaries throughout the subdivision in support of a good cause. Thank you to everyone in the community who come out and donate!
Where: 5020 Luke Drive, Cumming Contact: Visit Ashebrooke Night of Lights on Facebook for more details
The Place Holiday House
The 10th Annual Holiday House is a Christmas shopping experience for local families in need. Hundreds of volunteers create a retail-size store complete with holiday music, decorations, and a selection of gifts for parents to go shopping for gifts for their children.
Toy Collection will be held through Dec. 7.
Parent Shopping Days will take place Dec. 11-14 at Cumming First United Methodist Church at
Image courtesy of Forsyth County Fire Department
FCN File Photo
Image courtesy of The Place
770 Canton Hwy. in Cumming.
For more information, call 770-887-1098 or visit https:// theplacega.org/holiday-house/.
Holiday Hope
The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office is proud to announce the 4th Annual Holiday Hope Program. This program provides a hot meal and comfort packages to seniors in need within our community. This year we are increasing the number of seniors in the program to 350.
With that goal, we are asking our community for assistance. We have created an Amazon wish list and if you are able to donate a few items and feel inclined, please do. You can scan the QR code in the photos above. If you do not utilize Amazon, you can drop off gift cards to Walmart, Kroger, Publix, or Ingles to the Sheriff’s Office Headquarters located at 100 E. Courthouse Square. Mark the envelope for Holiday Hope 2024.
Thank
you for your
help in caring for our seniors!
Be a ‘Holiday Angel’ for a local elder this holiday season.
Holiday Gift Angels Program:
Personalized gift request tags containing the name of an older adult resident as well as a gift idea are available for participants to select
and provide a holiday gift by:
1. Picking up a gift request tag at Charles Place’s or Sexton Hall’s “Giving Tree.” Participants can also request a gift tag by contacting Senior Services at (770) 781-2178 or by emailing seniorservices@forsythco.com.
2. Acquire a gift. Each gift request tag lists the name of an older local adult and gift idea.
3. Bring the unwrapped gift in a gift bag with the gift request tag attached to Charles Place or Sexton Hall during business hours by Friday, Dec. 6.
Meal Sponsorship:
Those interested in purchasing a nutritious holiday meal and friendly visit/safety check to a local homebound older adult may choose to provide meals for a day, week, month or year. The cost for a meal certificate is $5 for one day, $25 for one week, $100 for one month and $1,200 for an entire year. Other donation amounts are also accepted and will be put toward this program. Holiday meals will be delivered from Thanksgiving Day until New Year’s Day.
Home Repair Program:
Donations to this program will assist low-income, isolated elders with repairs, safety modifications and property clean-ups. Much of the labor is donated by volunteers, with funds primarily going to materials. Checks for the Meal Sponsorship and Home Repair Programs should be made payable to Forsyth County Senior Services (FCSS) Holiday Giving Program and may be mailed or delivered to:
Forsyth County Senior Services
Attn: Holiday Giving Program
2115 Chloe Road
Cumming, GA 30041
Image courtesy of FCSO
Christmas Tree Farms
Slates Christmas Trees
419 Atlanta Rd
Cumming, GA 30040 (770) 354-3695
Bottoms Christmas Tree Farm and Corn Maze
5880 John Burruss Rd
Cumming, GA 30040 (770) 887-2728
The Kinsey Family Farm
7140 Jot Em Down Rd
Gainesville, GA 30506 (770) 887-6028
Deerwoods Christmas Tree Farm
1106 Henry Scott Rd, Ball Ground, GA 30107 (770) 380-3613
Big John’s
503 Lakeland Plaza
Cumming, GA 30040 (404) 261-3292
Big John’s
3651 Peachtree Pkwy Suwanee, GA 30024 (678) 672-0398
Pike Family Nursery 6050 Bethelview Road
Cumming, GA 30040 (770) 205-1737
The Collection at Forsyth
The Holiday Market
What: Open air market featuring more than 50 vendors and artisans, food, live entertainment and more! Hosted by Pine + Pigment.
When: Sunday, Nov. 17 • 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Where: The Collection at Forsyth, 410 Peachtree Parkway
How much: Free admission, merchandise available for purchase
Other Events
Holiday Holiday Magic at Halcyon
What: Head to Halcyon for a magical day to welcome Santa and his friends! Families can meet and take photos with their favorite characters including Santa Claus, The Grinch, Minnie and Mickey Mouse, Anna and Elsa, and Buddy and Jovie. Visit the Northside Hospital Teddy Bear station to get your own teddy bear to take home and groove to live local music presented by Galaxy Music and Arts. Plus face painting, balloon artists, crafts and more!
Children of all ages need a ticket, while adults accompanying them do not. For more information, visit the Halcyon Facebook event page.
When: Saturday, Dec. 7, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Where: Halcyon, 6365 Halcyon Way, Alpharetta
How much: $20 per child through 11/27; $25 per child
beginning 11/28
Hobnob’s Ski Chalet Pop Up Bar
What: Head to Hobnob at Halcyon for their winter ski resort pop up bar. Try some of the best Apres-ski fare east of the Rockies and enjoy snowy-season inspired, cozy cocktails by the fireplace. There will be live entertainment every Friday and Saturday evening on the second floor. For more information, visit the Halcyon Facebook event page.
When: Through December 31
Where: Halcyon, 6365
Halcyon Way, Alpharetta
How much: Prices vary
Photo courtesy of HobNob Neighborhood Tavern
