Cleveland kicks off Christmas celebrations

Friday, January 1, 1904

photo Cleveland Public Works employee Roger Cross watches as another Public Works employee, Butch Buttrey, hangs an electric snow flake from a light pole at the courthouse annex in this file photo. Behind them is the community Christmas tree to be lighted.

IF YOU GO• Carols in the City. Free. Today, 6 p.m.Front of Courthouse Annex downtown.• Parade. 6 p.m. SaturdayDeparts Bradley Central High School, travels north on South Lee Highway to Third Street, north on Ocoee Street and around the monuments, south on Broad Street, onto Inman Street and back to South Lee Highway and the school.• Classic ChristmasSunday, 3 p.m.Lee University, Conn Center.Free but seating is limited. Reservations can be made at the Dixon Center box office, 423-614-8343.Source: MainStreet Cleveland.

CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- The Christmas season begins here today.

The activities begin at 6 p.m. with the annual Carols in the City and community tree lighting.

"It's a nostalgic evening everyone can enjoy," said Melissa Woody, vice president of the Chamber of Commerce Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The evening begins with the First Baptist Church Sanctuary Choir on the courthouse annex steps.

The tree lights are switched on by County Mayor D. Gary Davis, Cleveland Mayor Tom Rowland and Santa Claus. Afterward, spectators walk together to downtown churches where choirs will meet them with music.

The stroll around town ends at the courthouse plaza with music by the Tennessee Christian Preparatory School elementary chorus and high school ensemble.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at the courthouse plaza for photos until 8 p.m., and free carriage rides are available around downtown until that time.

The annual Christmas 6 p.m. parade, with more than 170 entries expected, follows on Saturday. It follows the same route from Bradley Central High School through downtown that has been used for many years.

The music continues Sunday with the annual "A Classic Christmas" concert at Lee University.

The first half of this year's program features Ralph Vaugn William's "Hodie," a Christmas cantata performed by the Lee University Choral Union and Symphony Orchestra under the director of Dr. Cameron F. LaBarr. The orchestra will be prepared by Maestro Robert Bernhardt, conductor of the Lee Symphony Orchestra.

The cantata also features the Chattanooga Girls' Choir.

The second half features a variety of carols and Christmas music.