Travels with Charlie

Veteran Georgia journalist Charles Seabrook has covered native wildlife and environmental issues for decades. For “Travels with Charlie,” he visits and photographs communities throughout the state.

‘Twas the first week of December

And all through the town Christmas lights were twinkling

Spreading joy all around

My apologies to Clement Clarke Moore for mauling his beloved 1823 holiday poem, “The Night Before Christmas.” But there’s something about Christmas in small towns that boosts the holiday spirit and makes the season brighter.

Perhaps it’s because of the old adage “there’s no place like home for the holidays,” or maybe it’s because smalltown merchants go all — out to decorate their storefronts with special Christmassy touches.

Whatever it is, I find myself drawn in early December each year to Georgia’s small towns to savor their Christmas magic peering into storefronts with Santas and elves of nearly every shape and size, and walking the streets decked with blinking lights and cherished, antique ornaments. Few churches are without manger scenes and green wreaths hanging from their front doors.

Georgia has scores of small towns that transform into holiday showcases beginning in early December. No sooner is Thanksgiving over than city workers and townsfolk are stringing lights, decorating Christmas trees on town squares, and hanging wreaths and ornaments from streetlamps.

They must work steadily to be ready for their town’s biggest event of the season, the Christmas parade, which often culminates in a festive lighting of the community’s Christmas tree. Many Georgia towns schedule their parades early in December. For holiday events in a specific town, check its official website.

In two Georgia towns, though, Christmas is ingrained in their continued on page 16