Main Street Covington’s Christmas on the Square is in full swing with a great Lighting of the Tree and Polar Express night. But don’t worry, there is plenty more fun to be had.

Mark your calendar for the Thursday evenings of Dec. 8 and 15. While you are on the Square, shopping for Christmas gifts and having dinner, take a moment to enjoy a complimentary carriage ride. Covington Carriage Tours will be on the Square loading up near the Courthouse and Mystic Grill Restaurant from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Along with these eventful Thursdays, there are also two more fun-filled Friday nights coming. On Friday, Dec. 9, the Grinch will be on the Square from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Visitors can Christmas shop and have dinner, visit with Santa, write a letter to him and make a craft in the new Santa Village, visit with the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who, enjoy a bucket truck ride, pony ride and train ride, decorate a cookie, enjoy a yummy s’more, climb inside the life size snow globe, make a wreath, visit the Gingerbread House display and hear a story in the Historic Courthouse, get your face painted and more. Wristbands will be sold for $5 that evening for

Wristbands will be sold for $5 that evening for unlimited train, inflatable and pony rides. Our thought this Christmas season is ‘it’s not what you get, it’s what you give’. Each Friday we are encouraging ‘admission’ to the evening activities by supporting a local organization that supports families in our community. Grinch night we are asking that you bring a new, unwrapped toy that will be donated to the Covington Salvation Army. The Salvation Army will be on the Square to collect contributions.

The following Friday, Dec. 16 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. it will be Charlie Brown Christmas night. You will be able to enjoy all the activities from the previous week on this evening. The organization we are spotlighting and asking you to contribute to this week is Alcovy CASA. We’ll have several ‘Charlie Brown’ trees that will be set up and we need your help to decorate them! Bring new scarfs, caps, gloves and mittens to ‘decorate’ Charlie’s trees.

Santa will be visiting Covington through Dec. 17. He will be visiting with all the boys and girls in Santa’s Village (1150 Monticello Street). His schedule is: Friday evenings (Dec. 9 and Dec. 16) 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays (Dec. 10 and Dec. 17) from 11 p.m. to 5 p.m. If you would like to visit with Santa on Saturdays and have your photos made by Wright Expressions Photography, the hours of 11 a.m. to 1p.m. are set aside for those visits. Email info@wrightexpressions.com for more information.

On Sunday, Dec. 11 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. join us on the Square Park to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. We’ll have a Live Nativity and the reading of the Christmas story. There will be two programs with the first around 6 p.m., and the second around 7:30pm. If you are a church choir and would like to participate please email me at vhardy@newtonchamber.com

Have you made plans for New Year’s Eve yet? If not we would love for you to join us on the Square as we ring in 2017 together. The music gets kicked off at 5 p.m. with the band Blue Denim on the Square Park stage. Blue Denim is from Atlanta and plays Classic Rock, Southern Rock, Motown/Oldies and variety songs. At 8:45 p.m., the event will switch stages and the band Accent will take us to New Year’s on the Courthouse stage. Accent is based out of Alabama and is a high energy Dance and Party band that plays Motown, Top 40/Pop, Classic Rock, Oldies and variety songs. Enjoy dinner at one of our great restaurants or set up on the park Chastain-style.

Events like this would not be possible without the support of our sponsors. Main Street Covington would like to thank our Presenting sponsor Piedmont Healthcare, Ginn Motors, City of Covington, Jaco Contracting, Newton County, Covington Ford, Honda of Conyers, Pinnacle Bank, Above All Tree Service, Newton Federal Bank, Covington Police Who Care, United Bank of Covington, The Oaks Golf Course, The Lindsey Firm, Newton County Water Sewer Authority, Bank of North Georgia, Zaxby’s, Pratt Recycling, Metro PCS, Snapping Shoals, Re/Max, Southeastern Appliances, Pruitt Health, Berry’s Tree Farm, Alcovy Casa, Verizon, Covington Family Chiropractic, Fat Boys Golf Carts, Wright Expressions Photography, Newton County Arts Association and the Newton County Freemasons.
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I, and everyone with Main Street Covington wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Velinda Hardy is the Main Street Covington Director. She can be reached at vhardy@newtonchamber.com.