Annual Christmas on Main Street planned for Friday

By: Carrie A. Mizell

Christmas cheer will spread down Main Street in Trenton on Friday evening as Santa stops in Gilchrist County once again to celebrate the season.
An evening of free food and fellowship, Christmas on Main Street gives local businesses an opportunity to throw open their doors after dark to greet the community and offer local shopping for Christmas gifts as well as homemade goodies to taste.
According to Kyle Stone, executive director of the Gilchrist County Chamber of Commerce, the revelry will being at 6 p.m. when the Philman Family Band takes the stage at the Trenton Depot.
Santa and Mrs. Claus are expected to arrive in Trenton riding in a horse drawn carriage. According to the elves, Santa plans to ride down Main Street all the way to the Trenton Depot where he and Mrs. Claus will take part in the lighting of a large Christmas tree before traveling to Trenton City Hall. Santa will be available for children who wish to stop by and tell him what they would like for Christmas until 9 p.m. This will be a great photo opportunity for children to have their picture taken with Santa and enjoy cookies with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Live entertainment will continue throughout the evening. First Baptist Church of Trenton Children’s Choir will sing at 6:30 p.m. followed by Brent Owens and Leigh Hartzog at 7 p.m. Students from the Tri-County Dance and Twirl will perform at 7:30 p.m. The Philman Family Band is scheduled to close out the evening’s live entertainment.
Storytelling will be going on throughout the evening inside the Depot.
One of the most exciting new features at Christmas on Main Street this year will be snow! That’s right, snow is predicted in Trenton on Friday night. In fact, eight tons of snow will be blown onto a snow slide for sledding
Families are encouraged to register at the Depot for chances to win one of 20 bicycles that will be given away at the end of the evening.
“Pictures with Santa and bicycle registration are free, but we encourage everyone to bring a canned food item for our local food pantry,” Stone said.
Throughout the evening, horse drawn carriage rides will be offered free of charge.

Mallory Whitley and James Corbin dressed as Mary and Joseph for a
live nativity scene set up at last year’s Christmas on Main Street.
Lori Harrison is shown in the back dressed as an angel.

Pine Grove Baptist Church members will once again set up a live nativity scene on an empty lot across the street from the Gilchrist County Journal.
Christmas on Main Street will run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. and according to Stone, local restaurants will be offering dinner specials to coincide with the event. For more information, call 463-3467.