Sleigh It on the Square!
Marietta is giving ugly Christmas sweaters their moment in the spotlight. On December 3, the city's annual tree lighting celebration brings Santa, hometown choirs, and some gloriously questionable knitwear to Historic Marietta Square.
From 4 to 8 p.m., Glover Park becomes the gathering place for Marietta's Christmas Tree Lighting & Santa on the Square, an evening built around the kind of holiday traditions that keep generations coming back. There's music, plenty for the kids to do, and a Christmas tree waiting for its big moment.
The festivities feature performances from local school and church choirs, bringing familiar carols to the heart of downtown. Meanwhile, craft stations, winter-themed games, and Santa Letter Stations give younger visitors plenty to do while the grown-ups attempt to keep track of everyone.
But the evening's most entertaining fashion statement arrives around 5 p.m.
Marietta's Ugly Holiday Sweater Parade encourages families, friends, and anyone with a questionable collection of Christmas knitwear to show off their most outrageous seasonal attire. Think oversized snowflakes, excessive pom-poms, and sweaters that probably should have stayed in the attic.
Around 5:15 p.m., Santa makes his grand entrance to the Square, adding a little extra excitement before the main event. At 6 p.m., the Great Christmas Tree gets its moment as the lights come on in the middle of downtown Marietta.
The celebration continues until 8 p.m., giving families time to enjoy the atmosphere without racing through the evening's activities.
Behind those glowing lights is another hometown tradition: community involvement. Marietta invites residents, families, and local businesses to contribute to its annual Christmas Tree Fund, helping support the centerpiece of the Square's holiday celebration. The city also welcomes volunteers interested in supporting community events.
That participation is what gives an evening like this its staying power. The choirs, volunteers, local families, and familiar faces turn a city-sponsored tree lighting into something the entire community can claim as its own.
And while the Great Christmas Tree gets the official spotlight, there's a good chance someone wearing an illuminated Santa sweater will give it some competition.
For more celebrations bringing Georgia communities together throughout the year, browse the Georgia Business Journal's Festivals directory at https://gbj.com/festivals
