Christmas in the Park & Mistletoe Market Offer Free Family Holiday Fun This Weekend

Children of all ages are invited to enjoy the City of Summerville’s annual Christmas In The Park. Dowdy Park will come to life on December 17 and 18, 2021, as holiday cheer is offered free to the public. Vendors will be in the park for both events with a variety of crafts, and foods.

Christmas In The Park

Christmas In The Park will be presented to the public on Friday, December 17 from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Santa will arrive at Dowdy Park at 6:00 p.m. to visit and offer free photos with children. There will be a Best Dressed Elf Contest, Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest, The Christmas Cookie Smack DownContest and lots of fun scheduled for the evening.

The official lighting of the tree ceremony is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.in Dowdy Park. The tree will be lit by the winner of The Best dressed Elf contest, accompanied by Mayor Harry Harvey. Free hot chocolate and popcorn will be available in the middlegazebo to tempt the taste buds. Free holiday miniature train rideswill be offered around the park and the Summerville Fire Department will host a bonfire for crowds to warm up to.

Live musical performances will be a highlight, bringing Christmas cheer to all. Special drawings for a girl’s and a boy’s bike, as well as a Christmas ham will be done at 8:30 p.m.Tickets for the drawings will be available at the big gazebo at no charge. Only one ticket per item will be allowed per person.Ticket holders must be present to win.

Best Dressed Elf Competition

The Best Dressed Elf contest is open to all elementary aged children and sponsored by Summerville Main Street. Registration for “Elves” entering the contest will be held at the small gazebo in Dowdy Park between 6:00- 6:30 p.m. Judging is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. The contest winner will receive a trophy, be named “Head Elf”, and will do the honors of lighting the official park tree. The tree lighting is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest

The Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest is open to all ages. Registration begins at 7:15 at the small gazebo and judging begins at 7:30 p.m. Plenty of fun and Christmas cheer is expected from this contest, with the winner taking home a $50 cash prize. This contest is sponsored by Summerville Main Street.

The Christmas Cookie Smack Down Contest

Attention Bakers: Summerville Main Street is looking for the best cookie bakers in the area to compete in the 2021 Christmas Cookie Smack Down.  For the bakers up to accepting the challenge, bring one dozen of your favorite homemade Christmas Cookies, along with your cookie recipe to the small gazebo in Dowdy Park during Christmas in the Park. Entries will be accepted from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Recipes are subject to be publicized by our local media. Your cookie entry should be accompanied by a registration form, which may be filled out on site. Six of your cookies will be sampled for judging, with the remaining six cookies being packaged and donated as a Christmas Gift to Public Safety & First Responders. Event winners will be announced at 8:00 p.m. trophies will be awarded to 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place winners and the winning entry will be proclaimed by Mayor Harvey as “Best Christmas Cookie 2021”.

Free tours of the Couey House will be given by the Chattooga County Historical Society. The house is furnished in period appropriate furnishing that would have been appropriate of Chattooga County families in the early 1840-1850’s. The Chattooga County Garden Club will adorn the house with all natural Christmas Decor.

Mistletoe Market

Christmas fun and cheer will continue on Saturday, December 18 in Dowdy Park with Summerville Main Street’s annual Mistletoe Market. The event will run from 10:00 am-3:00 pm. in the park.  This year’s one day event will highlight a wide variety of food, baked items, merchants, artisans, and vendors. Special musical performances are scheduled throughout the day.Admission and parking is free. For more information on these events visit The City of Summerville Georgia Facebook Page or www.summervillega.org