Paris, Tenn.–Santa rolls in for the Christmas Festival in Downtown Paris on Saturday, December 14, and he’s bringing a sleigh load of friends. “The Downtown Christmas Festival” runs from 3 to 5 p.m. around the Court Square and features live animals, trackless train rides, crafts, stories and tasty treats, a visit from the jolly old elf and a Meet and Greet with the parade Grand Marshal Cherry Jones, Tony and Emmy Award-Winning Actress of Paris.
Stores will be open for shopping while the 4H group will make a unique hand print Santa and melted snowman ornaments, as well as paper straw wreaths and jingle bell necklaces. Leslie Sensing’s “reindeer goats” also will be on hand around Santa’s house to visit with the children. Youth Villages will host Christmas golf on the lawn and PARIS! Magazine friends will make magic reindeer food for kids to take home.
Other activities include a trackless train ride and for those who need a break from the chilly weather, one of Santa’s favorite fellows, Monroe Robbins, will be reading Christmas stories inside Jack’s Java at 116 N. Market Street from 3 to 5.
The Meet and Greet with Cherry Jones will be held from 3-4 p.m. inside the Wimberley Agency (at the corner of Washington and Market). The downtown Festival of Trees will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Paris 5 & 10 Event Center.
Other tasty treats around the square that evening include s’mores courtesy of the Paris Fire Department according to Kathy Ray, Executive Director of the Downtown Paris Association, and sponsor of the holiday event.
The Festival will be followed by DPA’s 13th Annual Holly Jolly Electric Christmas Parade at 5:00 p.m.
For more information on the Downtown Christmas Festival or the Downtown Paris Association contact Kathy Ray at 731-653-7274 or visit www.VisitDowntownParis.com.
Checklist of Events:
- Santa is in his Gingerbread House
- Claus, Elves, Rudolph and Christmas Mouse downtown to greet children and shoppers
- Take your own pictures with Santa for a donation to the Downtown Paris Association
- PARIS! Magazine making reindeer food
- Take your own “Photos on the Lawn with Frosty the Snowman and Santa’s Sleigh”
- Crafts at 4-H Club table – Hand print Santa
- Crafts at 4-H Club table – Melted Snowman ornament
- Crafts at 4-H Club table – Paper Straw Wreath
- Crafts at 4-H Club table – Jingle Bell Necklace
- Trackless Train rides for children and adults at the corner of Washington and Poplar Streets
- S’mores cooked by the Paris Fire Department on the East side of the Square
- Leslie Sensing’s Reindeer goat at Santa’s Gingerbread House
- Monroe Robbins will read Christmas stories in Jack’s Java from 3 to 5 p.m.
- Meet and greet with Cherry Jones inside Wimberley Agency from 3 to 4 p.m.
- Festival of Trees is open until 5 p.m.
- The 13th Annual Holly Jolly Electric Christmas Parade begins at 5:00 p.m.
Photo: The Paris Fire Department making s’mores at the 2017 festival. (Shannon McFarlin photo).