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By Abigail Roberts

Correspondent

STANFORD – Soon Main Street in Stanford will be filled with twinkling lights, Christmas floats and pageant contestants.

But before the annual Christmas parade, the community is invited to a Tree Lighting ceremony to officially kick off the Christmas season in Stanford.

The Tree Lighting will be held on Friday, Dec. 1 at 6:30 p.m. on the Lincoln County Courthouse lawn. The event will include the lighting of the tree and Christmas caroling.

On Saturday, Dec. 2, the annual parade will take over the town. This year’s parade theme is “A Christmas Carol.”

Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce Director Andrea Miller said she is excited to usher in yet another year of Christmas activities.

Miller said there have been a few changes to the lineup of the parade. Locations for each category of the parade are as follows:

• All Jeeps will be lined up at Stanford Elementary School on Foster Lane

• Snow Queen (high school) candidates will be lined up at Spurlin Funeral Home

• Snow Royalty, as well as horses and any other animals, will be lined up at the School Board of Education office

• Floats will be lined up behind Stanford Elementary

and Classic cars will be lined up in front of Stanford Elementary.

Line up will begin at 5 p.m. The annual parade will begin at 6 p.m.

The Stanford Police Department is reminding the public that the parade will occupy Main Street from about 4 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 2 so motorists should expect road closures and congestion during that time.

The same should also be expected on Sunday, Dec. 3 as the city hosts the annual Jingle Bell Jog 5K from 1:30 to 4 p.m.

Christmas in Hustonville

Hustonville will also be kicking off the Christmas season on Saturday, Dec 2 with a Christmas Bazaar at Hustonville Park. The event will feature vendors, crafts, hot chocolate and caroling beginning at 12 p.m. Santa Claus will make an appearance from 4 to 6 p.m. for photos before heading off to join the parade.

The  Parade of Lights will begin at 6:30 p.m. followed by a tree lighting ceremony.

Prizes for the best parade theme, best decorated vehicle, best decorated float and best community spirit will be awarded. Line up for the parade will begin at 6 p.m. at Hustonville Elementary School. The parade will travel down College Street, to Danville Pike, left onto Main Street and end at the Fire Department.

Christmas at the Lincoln County Farmers Market

The Lincoln County Farmers Market will be hosting a Christmas Market event on Saturday, Dec. 8 from 4 to 8 p.m. The event will include vendors, caroling, pictures with Santa Claus, hot chocolate, candy canes and a Christmas Tree decorating contest. There will be an assortment of goods available including handmade holiday decor, foods, shirts, goat’s milk soap, farm fresh eggs, pork, jams, pickles, woodworking, paintings and more. The Christmas Market will be under the Lincoln County Farmers Market pavilion in Veteran’s Park.

Christmas in Crab Orchard

Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus and their elf helpers will make their way through Crab Orchard on Dec. 16 starting at 6 p.m. on Dec. 16. Crab Orchard City Officials will also open the doors to City Hall where Santa and Mrs. Claus will hand out presents and take photos. Hot chocolate and candy will also be provided.

A Historical Christmas

The Lincoln County Historical Society is hosting several Christmas events throughout the area including:

• Christmas at L&N Depot in Stanford with Choo Choo Santa and Jingles the elf on Dec. 2 from 12 to 4 p.m. The event will include train displays by the Kings Mountain Model Railroad Club and the L&N Depot will be open for tours. Children’s crafts, cookies and hot chocolate will be provided;

• Christmas at Logan’s Fort on Saturday, Dec. 2 from 1 to 3 p.m. The Fort, located at the end of Martin Luther King Street in Stanford, will be decorated for Christmas and the museum will be open to visitors. Hot cider and cookies will be provided with music by the Danville Dulcimers;

• Christmas Open House at the Old Presbyterian Meeting House & Museum on Saturday, Dec. 2 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The oldest existing church on the Wilderness Road, located at 315 W. Main Street in Stanford, will be open to visitors to enjoy a museum filled with Lincoln County Heirlooms; and

• Christmas at the William Whitley House will be held Dec. 16 and 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. Located at 625 William Whitley Road, the decorated WWH will be open to visitors with costumed interpreters in each room. Cookies and punch will be available and the gift shop will be open.

For more information on local events, visit www.visitlincolncoky.com/events.