Athens celebrates Old-Fashioned Christmas

Athens, Tenn., will celebrate an Old-Fashioned Downtown Christmas on Saturday with lights, music, food and fun that evokes the era of a Victorian holiday.

According to the Downtown Business Association, the festival was created "to bring to the community an atmosphere of days gone by, when Christmas shopping was a family event of hustle and bustle around the square while all the sights, sounds and smells of Christmas filled the air."

Among those sights and sounds are lights in the trees at Knight Park, horse-drawn carriage rides, strolling carolers, storytelling, old-fashioned Christmas treats, visits with Santa Claus and two of his reindeer, plus unique gifts from downtown merchants.

Additionally, The Arts Center, 320 N. White St., will offer a range of fine arts, crafts and handmade gifts from local and regional artisans during its third annual Holiday Trunk Show. The trunk show will take place 10 a.m.-5 p.m. today and noon-8 p.m. Saturday. Call 423-745-8781 for more information.

Old-Fashioned Christmas events are scheduled 5-9 p.m. Saturday. To reach downtown Athens from Chattanooga, take I-75 North to Exit 49. Turn east onto Highway 30/David W. Lillard Memorial Highway. Travel 4 miles, then turn right on Jackson Street.

Upcoming Events