It’s a busy holly jolly weekend in Madison and Orange counties with tree lightings, parades and Christmas bazaars.
Up first, Madison County will light its baby blue spruce Friday, Dec. 5 at 5:45 p.m. The beautiful, yet vertically challenged tree was planted in 2022 in front of the War Memorial Building. Mountain View Chapel will provide cookies and cocoa. Following the tree lighting, the annual Christmas parade, “Friday Night Christmas Lights,” will take place on Main Street at 6 p.m. Folks are encouraged to travel down the street post-parade to enjoy the live nativity at Beth Car Baptist Church.
On Saturday, the holiday fun will continue in Madison with the Madison County High School’s Winter Wonderland, 10 a.m. to noon. Enjoy photos with Santa, crafts, face painting and more. This event is best suited for children 10 and under. Graves Market will host its fifth annual Christmas Bazaar 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with Santa and the Grinch as well as local vendors, a bake sale, crafts for the kids, hot chocolate and more.
In Orange County, pictures with Santa will be available at the Orange County Public Safety Building, 11282 Government Center Drive, Orange Saturday, 12:30-2 p.m. Also enjoy kids’ crafts, hot cocoa, a K-9 demonstration with Kyro and Hary, a trip through the fire safety smoke house and fire trucks. In the Town of Orange, Santa will be at the Train Depot for photos 12-4 p.m. with artisan craft and baked goods outside as well as food and drinks available for purchase.
In Barboursville, the Four County Players will host its fifth annual holiday bazaar 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Barboursville Community Park, 5256 Governor Barbour Street, Barboursville. Enjoy performances from local groups including Brushwood’s School of Dance as well as local vendors and artisans from Orange, Greene, Albemarle, Charlottesville and more.
The main event Saturday will be the Rotary Club of Orange’s annual tree lighting and parade. This year’s theme for the parade is “A Hallmark Christmas.” It will begin at 4:30 p.m. in the Town of Orange near Hardee’s, follow Madison Road to Main Street, travel west on Main Street with a left on Caroline Street ending at the Orange Volunteer Fire Company. Immediately following the parade, the David Sherman Memorial Christmas Tree will be lit at 6 p.m. in Taylor Park. Enjoy free crafts for kids, photos with Santa, free hot chocolate and cookies, holiday music and memory ornaments.
On Sunday, the Gordonsville Merchants Association will host Holidays in Gordonsville with a visit from Santa 12-3 p.m. on the town hall steps and holiday carriage rides and carolers along Main Street 1-4 p.m. Enjoy mulled wine from Horton Vineyard, hot cocoa by Westwind Flowers, a special performance by Brushwood’s School of Dance and artisan holiday shopping.
For those seeking a little music in their weekend, the Madison Choral Society will perform its Christmas concerts, “Christmas Joy,” Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m. at Orange Presbyterian Church, 162 W. Main Street, Orange and Dec. 7 at 4:30 p.m. at Mt. Carmel Church, 1725 W. Hoover Road, Haywood. The concerts are free and feature brass and string quartets to accompany choral settings of music celebrating the birth of Jesus. On Saturday, Gordonsville United Methodist Church will host a Christmas Sing-Along at 3 p.m. Sing carols, share stories and enjoy time together. The church is located at 407 N. Main Street in Gordonsville.
