Christmas comes to Main Street

By Carrie A. Mizell

Two thousand people flocked to Main Street on Trenton Friday night for the Gilchrist County Chamber of Commerce’s 4th Annual Christmas on Main Street celebration.
The weather was perfect as crowds of people strolled along the sidewalks, stopping in at local businesses and waiting in line for the snow slide.

James Corbin and Mallory Whitley dressed as Mary and Joseph for Pine Grove Baptist Church’s
live nativity scene, which was set up on Main Street in Trenton Friday night.

Progress Energy gave out 200 hot dogs at last year’s event quickly, so they doubled the number of dogs to 400 this year. Little did they know, hot dogs were a hot item Friday night! Four hundred were reportedly given out in just over an hour and a half.
The Gilchrist County Journal offered visitors who stopped in punch and cookies. The crowds were so large that Journal staff had to run to the grocery store to pick up extra cups for the punch.

Carolers from Trenton Middle-High School walked along Main Street singing songs of the season.

Capital City Bank was also bombarded with people, many of whom were small children hoping to sit on Santa’s knee.
After riding a train down Main Street, Santa greeted children throughout the evening in front of Capital City Bank.
As in years past, Best Drugs did a booming business during Christmas on Main Street. The store offered a number of specials throughout the evening.
Kyle Stone, executive director of the Gilchrist County Chamber of Commerce, said 40 bicycles and scooters were given away at the depot. In all, over 300 children registerd for a chance to win a bicycle, scooter, toy, or stuffed animal.
Stone was featured on TV20 during a live broadcast set up at the depot, where much of the acitivity was happening, including the tree lighting.
Much to the delight of viewers, Stone pummeled a TV20 reporter with snowballs from the snow sled.
“It was so funny!” Stone said.”I had people coming up to me saying, ‘I saw you on the news.’”
From a live nativity scene and to a trackless train, Christmas on Main Street offered local residents and visitors a free family night.