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The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com
Sunday, November 25, 2018 3C
XMAS
■ Continued from 1C
The tree, which was added
to the Old Fashioned Christmas
celebration last year through a
sponsorship from local jewelry
store Studio Jewelers, accord
ing to Wilson, is used to benefit
local charities and outreach
programs, specifically the Com
munity Helping Place, which
offers a food pantry and finan
cial assistance.
“We had lots of people say
‘Where is the craft tree?’ so
they know about it,” Wilson
said. “This is the second year. I
hope that that stays. People like
giving to local charities, too, so
that helps the Community Help
ing Place, kind of better known
as CHP around here.”
Outside of helping local
charities, Wilson hopes the Old
Fashioned Christmas events
will continue to help Dahlonega
at large, specifically its local
businesses.
“I hope it helps our economy
here,” Wilson said. “I know it
helps our B&Bs and hotels and
even all the way to Airbnbs
because they’re all full. The
goal here is to bring economic
boom and keep our square so
everybody can enjoy it. That’s
the overall goal: to keep the
shops busy and I heard the
restaurants were full last night
after the festivities.”
The festivities will continue
each weekend until Dec. 31,
bringing visitors from far and
wide to see the city’s “magic.”
“Last year, we ate dinner in
a restaurant and enjoyed the
lights then walked through the
square, and we saw a proposal
on the grounds of the Gold
Museum amid the twinkling
lights,” Harris said. “And you’re
just sitting here going, ‘This is
just unbelievable.’ And that’s
what Christmas is in Dahlonega
— it’s just magic.”
As for how the event’s orga
nizers manage to keep it a
refreshing experience each
year, Wilson says conveying
Dahlonega’s small town charm
is its priority, but it’s open to
coordinating new attractions
and performances to spice
things up.
“We’ve tried different
things,” Wilson said. “We’ve
had trolley rides, we’ve had
stuff for the adults, we’ve got
the carriage rides. It’s hard to
make it fresh, but people love
the town because of the small
town feel. That’s what we want
to keep.”
So whether you take a stroll
around the square to see the
decorations or visit a local res
taurant or shop, Dahlonega will
put you in the Christmas spirit.
“It’s like stepping into a Hall
mark movie,” Nichols said.
“It’s just beautiful. You feel like
you’re in a town that it’s Christ
mas every day.”
Kenneth Mucks contributed to this
report.
People listen
to musicians
perform in
front of the
Dahlonega
General
Store during
Dahlonega’s
Old Fashioned
Christmas on
Saturday, Nov.
24, 2018.
Photos by
AUSTIN STEELE
The Times
A horse drawn
carriage carries
people through
downtown
Dahlonega.
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People wait in line to take a photo with a Christmas tree during Dahlonega’s Old Fashioned
Christmas.
People walk through downtown Dahlonega during Dahlonega’s Old Fashioned Christmas.
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FOR YOUR FAVORITES
10.29.18 - 11.30.18
