Christmas Lights Up This Week in Smyrna-Vinings

It will be cold we know, but hopefully, unlike last year, it will be dry for Tuesday night’s “Coming Home for the Holidays’’ celebration on Smyrna’s Village Green.

Last year a driving rain prevented Santa from lighting Smyrna’s Christmas tree before a large gathering. Tuesday’s temperature lows will dip into the 30s, but hopefully once the 7 p.m. scheduled tree lighting comes around, the rain will have moved on. Regardless, the event promises much family fun as it marks the first official evening of holiday lights in downtown Smyrna.

Santa will be available for pictures from 7:30 - 9 p.m., but don’t worry if you miss him Tuesday eve, as there will be other opportunities to bring your Christmas list and take a picture with ole Saint Nicholas.

That’s because he has scheduled several December dates to be available at the Smyrna Welcome Center, better known as Aunt Fanny’s Cabin located on Atlanta Road across the street from the Market Village in downtown Smyrna. Those dates include:

• Friday, December 2, 19, 16, & 23 - 6:00 until 8:00 p.m.
• Saturday, December 3, 10, & 17 - 6:00 until 8:00 p.m.
• Sunday, December 4, 11, & 18 - 6:00 until 8:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, December 21 - 6:00 until 8:00 p.m.
• Thursday, December 22 - 6:00 until 8:00 p.m.

Here’s what the Tuesday event itinerary looks like:

Music/Singing Schedule is as follows:

Mistletoe Music Hall (inside the )
5:45 –6:05 p.m. Russell Elementary School Lynn Boland, Director
6:05 – 6:20 p.m. Nickajack Elementary School Shannon Bassett, Director
6:25 – 6:45 p.m. Cumberland Christian Academy, Patriot Singers Debbie Holyfield, Director
7:00 p.m. Tree Lighting Ceremony on Village Green
7:10 – 7:30 p.m. Brown Elementary School Chorus Carla Jackson, Director
7:30 – 7:50 p.m. Whitfield Academy Chorus Brian Coski, Director

Holiday Hall (inside the Community Center)
5:00 – 5:20 p.m. Norton Park Elementary School Chorus Jason Passmore, Director
5:25 – 5:45 p.m. Belmont Hills Elementary School Samuel Holmes, Director
5:50 – 6:10 p.m. King Springs Elementary School, Melody Makers Christa Joy Chase, Director
6:15 – 6:30 p.m. Smyrna First United Methodist Church Kim Duggins, Director
6:35 – 6:55 p.m. Teasley Elementary School Roxanne Smith, Director
7:00 p.m. Tree Lighting Ceremony on Village Green
7:10 – 7:30 p.m. Sanders Elementary School Chris Chance, Director
7:35 – 7:55 p.m. Argyle Elementary School Stanley Homer, Director

Ho! Ho! Hall (inside the Community Center)
6:00 – 6:30 p.m. Osborne High School Orchestra Jane Cumminisky, Director
6:30 – 6:55 p.m. Whitfield Academy Orchestra DeAnna Baldwin, Director
7:00 p.m. Tree Lighting Ceremony on Village Green
7:10 – 8:00 p.m. Tara Winds Ensembles Dr. Andrea Strauss, Director

Outside Carol Sing
6:40 – 6:50 p.m. God’s Light Youth Ensemble Kim Duggins, Director Smyrna First United Methodist Church
6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Helen Cunningham Piano Studio Helen Cunningham, Director

Tree Lighting Ceremony Visit With Santa – Ho! Ho! Hall
7:00 p.m. Santa arrives to light the great 7:30 – 9:00 p.m. Santa will be available for pictures.

Holiday Bazaar – Ho! Ho! Hall Donner’s Deli
5:00 – 9:00 p.m.

On Thursday, Dec. 1, there will be two more free to the public tree lighting events in the Smyrna-Vinings area. will host a Christmas tree lighting beginning at 6:30 p.m.

The event will take place in front of the hospital and feature choral groups from Smyrna Assembly of God and Atlanta Adventist Academy Bell Choir, and a special appearance by Santa. Families are invited to bring their cameras for photos with Santa at the conclusion.

Also that night, the Vinings Jubilee Annual Christmas Tree Lighting will take place at the Tower Stage beginning at 6 p.m. Enjoy lots of family fun including train and pony rides along with prizes, face painting, balloon twisting, festive music, and holiday treats. Of course, it wouldn’t be Christmas without Santa and he’ll will be on hand to listen to everyone’s wish lists.

Then, a week later, Santa Claus will take another break from the hustle and bustle of the North Pole to return to Vinings Jubilee for more photo opportunities. A horse-drawn sleigh will be providing free rides to guests all afternoon, and one lucky winner of the Vinings Jubilee Sleigh Ride with Santa Sweepstakes (www.facebook.com/viningsjubilee) will have the opportunity to hop into the sleigh with Santa, join him for a free photo, and dine at the restaurant of their choice with a $100 Vinings Jubilee gift card.