Santa and Mrs. Claus will greet visitors during the annual Christmas parade in downtown Cave Spring, Ga., on Saturday, Dec. 3. More Small Town Christmas in the Country events will be held through the weekend.Looking for ways to boost your holiday mood this weekend? Here are a few ideas, and you'll find more throughout chattanooganow.com.
* Caroling With the Fishes: The Tennessee Aquarium, 1 Broad St., will have choruses, soloists and instrumentalists stationed throughout the galleries performing holiday music from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4. Santa will be available for keepsake photos. Admission is free for members, $14.50 for nonmember adults, $9.50 for nonmember children. www.tnaqua.org.
* Christmas Bazaar: St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Blue Ridge, Ga., will hold its 10th annual Christmas Bazaar from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, at Wetherburn Tavern at High Hope Plantation, an 18th-century-inspired property that is open to the public only once a year for this event. The village street features buildings and a chapel much like those found in Colonial Williamsburg.
The handmade and handcrafted array of items for sale includes Americana cabin decor, rustic and whimsical holiday decorations and ornaments, painted pine-cone wreaths and an assortment of homemade baked goods, jams, jellies, Russian tea, peanut brittle and applesauce.
Teresa Wankel, president of the Episcopal Church Women, says some of the most popular items have been featured every year of the sale. They include decorative cork reindeer, lighted bottles, Mountain Candy and a silent auction favorite, The Rector's Traditional English Dinner prepared by Victor Morgan. Prices start at $1.
In addition to the silent auction of art and handcrafted works, there will be a raffle for a wooden sleigh filled with wine and chocolates.
All proceeds benefit charities and organizations that serve the families in the North Georgia mountains including Family Connection, North Georgia Community Action, Good Samaritan Fund, Sunny D Children's Theater Camp and Safe Choice Pregnancy Center.
Admission is free. Wetherburn Tavern at High Hope Plantation is on Highway 5, about 1 mile from Blue Ridge. Signs will be posted. For more information, call 706- 632-8245 or check the St. Luke's Episcopal Church Facebook page.
* Christmas Shoppe: Collegedale Community Church, 9305 Four Corners Place, will host its third annual Christmas Shoppe 6:30-9:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, in the fellowship hall. The festive event will feature holiday items for purchase, live music, pizza, hot cider, holiday treats, crafts for kids, Minute To Win It games, visits with Santa and photo-ops with a professional photographer. Questions? Call 423-396-4803 or visit www.CollegedaleCommunity.com
* Christmas stories: Barnes & Noble, 2100 Hamilton Place Blvd., will showcase two popular tales this weekend. Kids are welcome to wear their PJs for the reading of "The Polar Express" at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2. Coloring and activities will follow, including writing a Dear Santa letter. Dr. Seuss' "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" will be read at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 3. Kids will receive good-deed badges and tracking booklets to log all the good things they do this holiday season. Activities will follow. 423-893-0186.
* Cocktails & Coloring: Presented by Eat.Drink.Frolic., this winter workshop will show how to make two holiday-inspired cocktails, then give participants a mental break with holiday-themed coloring pages. It happens 6-8 p.m. today, Dec. 1, at Greyfriar's Coffee & Tea, 321 Market St. Cost is $35. Guests must be at least 21. Check for space availability at eatdrinkfrolic.com/2016/11/holiday-cocktail.html.
* Craft 'N' Crop: Artist Patricia "Balloona" Gordon will show how to make balloon twist candy canes at this monthly mixer for creatives, set for 6 p.m. today, Dec. 1, at Heritage House, 1428 Jenkins Road. She'll also be constructing a life-size toy soldier/nutcracker to decorate the Heritage House lobby for the following evening's East Brainerd community tree lighting (see below). Call 423-855-9474 for more information.
* Drive-through light display: The Rhea County Fair will debut a drive-through Christmas light display at the fairgrounds on Eagle Lane in Evensville, Tenn., this weekend. The attraction will be open 6-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays in December. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be on hand for free photos on Saturday, Dec. 10. Entry is $5 per car. Wagon rides are available, weather permitting, for $1 per passenger for groups up to 14. Call 423-785-6590 for larger groups.
* Handling holiday stress: Pam Johnson, a licensed clinical social worker, and Amy Perkins, a counseling psychologist, will discuss how to cope with emotional stresses at the holidays, covering realistic expectations, family dynamics, negative emotions and depression at the next meeting of Boomers, Shakers and Beyond at 1 p.m. today, Dec. 1, in the Youth Center at Christ United Methodist Church, 8645 East Brainerd Road. This monthly community enrichment program is designed for adults 50 and older. Register at ChristChurchChatt.org under Get connected>Adult>Small groups.
* Pajama party: The Santa Cares Pajama Party, set for 6:30-8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, at Bradley Square Mall, 200 Paul Huff Parkway in Cleveland, Tenn., will benefit Chattanooga's Ronald McDonald House. Kids can visit with Santa, decorate cookies and take part in crafts. Photo-ops are available, with packages starting at $25. Cost is $10 per child, free for ages 2 and younger. Purchase tickets at www.RMHChatt anooga.com.
* Pet photos: Two area malls have scheduled their final photo-ops for Santa and his furry friends.
At Bradley Square Mall, 200 Paul Huff Parkway in Cleveland, Tenn., the last Pet Night is 6-8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 5. Pets should be leashed or in a carrier and brought in Entrance 4 between Belk and JCPenney.
At Northgate Mall in Hixson, pet photos will be made 6-9 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6. Santa's Workshop is set up near Sears.
* Tree lighting: The East Brainerd community tree lighting, with Santa and his elves, refreshments and caroling, is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2, at Heritage House, 1428 Jenkins Road. Call 423-855-9474 for more information.
PARADES, PLUS...
* Cave Spring, Ga.: 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3.
Plus: The Small Town Christmas in the Country celebration, which includes arts and crafts vendors in Rolater Park and inside Hearn Academy, will be 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 3-4, in downtown Cave Spring, Ga. Admission is free, and coffee, hot cider and other samples will be served to visitors. Also on Sunday is the fourth annual Santa Sprint, a 5K and 1-mile health walk, at 2 p.m.; register at www.active.com.
* Chatsworth, Ga.: 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3.
Plus: The historic Chatsworth Depot on First Avenue will be open from noon to 4 p.m. Members of the Georgia Garden Railway Society will have model trains running in the former freight room, and there will be readings of "The Polar Express" by local entertainer Tiffany Beavers on the half hour. Refreshments will be served, and Santa will have gifts for children. Admission is free for children 10 and younger, $2 for ages 11 and older. Proceeds go toward the continued preservation of the depot, Chatsworth's oldest building. For more information, call the Chatsworth-Murray County Library at 706-695-4200.
* Cleveland, Tenn.: 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3.
Plus: The parade is just one part of a busy weekend. Friday, Dec. 2, features Carols in the City and the Lighting of the Community Christmas Tree at 6 p.m. at the Post Office on Broad Street. Visitors can then take part in reverse caroling, where they walk to downtown churches and other key sites to hear performances. Visits with Santa Claus take place between 6:15 and 8 p.m. in the Bandstand at the Courthouse Plaza. Free carriage rides will be offered until 8 p.m. Then, Sunday, Dec. 4, features the 27th annual "A Classic Christmas" concert at 3 p.m. in Lee University's Conn Center. Admission is free, but tickets are required. Call 423-614-8240 to reserve. www.mainstreetcleveland.com.
* Dayton, Tenn.: 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3.
Plus: The old-fashioned Horse & Carriage Parade is part of Christmas at the Courthouse, which includes Appalachian Christmas music and vendor booths on the Rhea County Courthouse lawn, a Christmas Critters pageant, photos with Santa and candlelight caroling. Find out more at www.mainstreetdayton.org.
* LaFayette, Ga.: 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 2.
Plus: Visits with Santa will follow the parade at 7 p.m. in Joe Stock Park, where the Amazing Christmas Light Show, a display of lights synchronized to music, may be viewed throughout December from 6 to 10 p.m. The seventh annual model railroad and village will be set up at Chattooga Academy/Gordon Hall 6-9 p.m. this weekend, Dec. 2-4, then nightly Dec. 9-31. Saturday, Dec. 3, brings the Reindeer Run 5K and 1-mile fun run at 9 a.m., and the ninth annual Christmas Around the Square, offering shopping deals, door prizes and refreshments at downtown merchants, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
* Red Bank: 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 3.
Plus: The parade happens within a community festival running 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Red Bank City Park, 3859 Dayton Blvd., with vendors and entertainers. Also, at Red Bank United Methodist Church nearby, the Stonewall Youth Group will present a holiday market during the same hours inside the Christian Activity Center. Vendors will have handmade crafts, jewelry, clothing and baked goods, and direct-selling companies will have specialty goods. Come early Saturday for the inaugural Red Bank Gator Run at the old Red Bank Middle School. The 5K starts at 9:30 a.m., and a 1-mile Mutt Strut & Fun Run/Walk steps off at 9:45 a.m. Through Friday, Dec. 2, registration is $33 for the 5K, $22 for the Mutt Strut & Fun Run; race-day registration is $38 and $28. Register at https://runsignup.com/Race/TN/RedBank/Red BankGatorRun.
* Soddy-Daisy: 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4.
Plus: The day before, Saturday, Dec. 3, is the city's annual community Christmas celebration, with live music and other entertainment at Poe's Tavern beside City Hall. The celebration will last throughout the afternoon, though no specific time has been announced.
Sunday's parade goers should note that because of road construction, the staging area will be in the parking lots of Daisy United Methodist Church and the old Erlanger facility, and no spectators will be allowed south of Daisy Church of God. The route follows Dayton Pike north to Sequoyah Road.