December’s already looking a lot like Christmas

ALBANY — Christmas will parade into Southwest Georgia in December. In fact, it’s getting an early start in some places.

If you’re not shopping Black Friday, Thronateeksa Heritage Center will be full of Christmas cheer. The Albany center opens its annual exhibit of photographer Don Fisher’s Santa collection, Santa Goes Global, in its Science Museum. The exhibit continues until Jan. 3. That’s also when the science center’s Wetherbee Planetarium debuts its annual “Season of Light” show, which will be shown at 11:30 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays until Jan. 3.

In Plains, the town’s annual Christmas parade is on Saturday. And at Lake Blackshear between Cordele and Americus, the Holiday Light Show starts this evening at 6 p.m. and continues until 9 p.m., as it will every Thursday through Sunday night until Dec. 28.

Down in Thomasville, the South Georgia Ballet also is getting an early jump on the Yuletide season with its 17th annual presentation of the Christmas classic, “The Nutcracker.” Performances are set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Thomasville Municipal Auditorium, 144 E. Jackson St.

Once December gets here Monday, the schedule of activities around the region will get busier, particularly during the first half of the month since that has turned into the “sweet spot” for holiday activities over the years. Organizers of events know that the closer you get to Christmas Day, the harder it is to draw a crowd.

Camilla will be next up on Tuesday, Dec. 2, at 6:30 p.m. with its annual Christmas parade. A week from today on Dec. 4, Sylvester will conduct its annual parade at 6 p.m. and Americus will have its annual yuletide parade at 7 p.m.

On Friday, Dec. 5, Theatre Albany will raise the curtain at 8 p.m. on the holiday comedy “Dashing Through the Snow,” which also will feature additional Christmas songs. The six-performance set continues with 2:30 p.m. matinee performances on Dec. 7 and 14 and 8 p.m. performances on Dec. 11-13.

That Friday is also when Chehaw will open its Festival of Lights, with lighted Christmas displays along the driver-through at the park and along the trolley route. Dates for the Chehaw light show start at dusk on Dec. 5-7, 11-14, 17-24 and 26-28.

The city of Pelham will light its city Christmas tree at 5 p.m. Dec. 5 in Freedom Park.

The SAM Shortline Train in Cordele becomes the Candy Cane Express on Dec. 5 with two excursions that include a 70-minute layover in Plains. The Candy Cane Express runs at 10 a.m. and 2:20 p.m. on Dec. 9, 11 and 15 as well. Santa will be aboard for the trips, which will live up to their name with free candy canes for passengers. Call (229) 276-0755 for tickets.

The first Saturday in December — the 6th — will be packed with holiday activities throughout Southwest Georgia. Leesburg will start the day at 8 a.m. with its Spirit of Christmas Festival on Starksville Avenue. At 10 a.m., attention will turn to the annual Spirit of Christmas parade, which will feature St. Nick as the grand marshal.

It’ll be a busy day for Santa, who’ll have to get to Tifton by 5 p.m. for its Christmas parade before heading back west to Albany for the annual Celebration of Lights parade, which always ends with Santa and Mrs. Claus riding in the final float. The 24th annual Albany Christmas parade will get started at 6 p.m. with the lighting of the downtown Albany Christmas tree. This year, the family of late Olympics star Alice Coachman will be lighting the city tree.

State parks in the area will get into the spirit that Saturday. Christmas On The Lake will be 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 6 at Florence Marina State Park in Omaha. Visitors will be able to make Christmas decorations out of natural ornaments such as pine cones, sweet gum balls, magnolia seedpods and seashells, and photos will be taken with Santa. Festival of Lights and Frosty 5K Race will be that Saturday 4 to 9 p.m. at Seminole State Park in Donalsonville. The third annual event includes a visit from Santa, inflatables for the kids, crafts, music and food. For the Merry Mile and Frosty 5K, participants are asked to dress in holiday attire. The $5 parking fee applies at both facilities.

The first of several Victorian-era style Christmas observances is on Dec. 6. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Westville, at 9294 Singer Pond Road near Lumpkin, will have an all-day with Father Christmas and Mrs. Christmas. Visitors also will be able to participate in hands-on crafts at the 1850s historic village.

The Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village in Tifton will turn the clock back on Dec. 7, when up to 125 visitors will be able to experience its Victorian Village by Candlelight from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. Advance tickets are required as the event is limited to five groups of 25 who will start their respective tour every half-hour.

On Dec. 11, downtown Thomasville also will turn the clock back for the first of two consecutive nights of its annual Victorian Christmas celebration. That event includes downtown caroling, entertainment, street vendors, crafts, downtown shops open late and community singalongs. The event is 6 to 9 p.m. both nights.

Also on Dec. 11, Moultrie will conducts its annual Christmas parade, with Bainbridge’s Christmas parade starting that night at 6:30 p.m.

On Dec. 13, the Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village will celebrate its Wiregrass Christmas from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., bringing back some of the 19th century traditions that were observed in Southwest Georgia during the holidays.

On the evening of Dec. 13, the Albany Symphony Orchestra gets into the Christmas spirit with the second of its four-concert subscription series, “Air — Cirque de Noel.” The symphony will be joined by the gravity-defying Cirque de la Symphonie in the concert, which gets under way at 7:30 p.m. at the Albany Municipal Auditorium following the 6:30 p.m. pre-concert notes.

Christmas music lovers will have another chance to hear some of their favorites on Dec. 15 when the Albany Chorale has its Holiday with the Chorale concert at 7 p.m. at Walden Chapel of First United Methodist Church, 306 Flint Ave.

And just before Christmas week gets under way, children and the young at heart will be able to ride the North Pole Express 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 18-19 at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village in Tifton. The $6 train passes, which have to be purchased at the village’s country store, include Mrs. Claus reading “The Polar Express” to passengers on the 20-minute ride to see her husband, Santa.