‘Tis the Season
The holiday season is a time of year when friends, family, neighbors, and visitors come together to celebrate. You are encouraged to come downtown Greeneville on Friday evening to join them and the host of businesses, artists, musical groups, performers, and volunteers that have come together to provide “Christmas in Downtown – A Holiday Celebration” that memories are made of.
Lighting the Community Tree
December 5th 8:30pm – Music and caroling will take place on South Main Street near the County Courthouse lawn beginning at 8:20pm. Greeneville High School Choir at The Capitol Theatre will lead off the musical entertainment at 8:00pm as the crowd joins in to sing holiday favorites like, “Silent Night” as we await the arrival of Santa to light the Community Christmas tree at 8:30pm. A limited number of candlelike glowsticks will be available for children and others are encouraged to use their cell phones to create the candle effect.
Stage is Set for Christmas Music Downtown
The entertainment stage set up on West Depot Street right off Irish Street. Bring your lawn chair if you want to hang out and listen to all the groups. Eastview Elementary Choir will start things off at 6:00pm; followed by Tusculum View Chorus at 6:45pm. Chuckey Doak High School Choir will continue at 7:20pm with Hal Henard Choir rounding out the evening from 7:55pm until 8:25pm when folks will move up the street to the Community Tree at the Greene County Courthouse on South Main Street to sing around the tree prior to the welcome by officials and the arrival of Santa at 8:30pm.
More Music at Other Locations
The Towering Oaks Choir will entertain in front of The Capitol Theatre, on South Main Street, from 7:00pm to 7:30pm followed by the Greeneville High School Choir at 8:00pm. The City Garage Car Museum located on South Main Street across from the Homestead will welcome South Greene High School Choir from 6:30pm to 7:00pm. The Gentry will host Adam Clouse and Eric Reaves from 6:00 – 9:00pm. Hop on one of the wagons to join Nick Gunter and his son to sign carols as you ride around town.
Wagon Rides Downtown, and more Downtown Things to Do
Public Works will provide holiday wagon rides in downtown during the evening with three loading/unloading areas at South Main and McKee Streets across from the City Garage Car Museum: W Irish Street near the Greeneville City School Administration Building parking lot; and East Church Street near the parking lot at AJ Bank and First Presbyterian Church. Be sure to load up on the wagon where you can carol your way around town. We would ask that you get off at the next stop so that those waiting to board can do so. One wagon will host Nick Gunter and his son singing songs as you ride. Wagon rides are also subject to dry weather conditions.
Holiday Market
The 100 block of South Main Street is where Depot Street Farmers’ Market vendors and others will have the Holiday Market. Known at press time will be Fern Gulley, Handmade by Lovie, Hill Farm, Hill Farm Kids, Maggie’s Designs Face Painting, Amanda Wright-Brown Mary Kay, and Renewal By Anderson. Make Magic Reindeer Food with the help of Main Street volunteers to put out for Santa’s team on Christmas Eve.
Merchants Have Extended Hours
The merchants will be open for shopping and dining. Visit with Greeneville Credit Jewelers, Greeneville Antique Market, Sweeter Than Sweet Candy Company, Brolin & Bailey Company, Nickel Ridge Winery, Tipton’s Café, The Gentry, Blue Mountain Studio, Brumley’s at The General Morgan Inn, Tannery, Elevate, Corner Garage Bar, Ginko Gallery, and Towne Square Package Store for special offers and hours. Most merchants will also offer light refreshments.
Santa to be at the General Morgan Inn Courtyard & About Town
Weather permitting, Santa plans to hang out in his big red sleigh located this year at the General Morgan Inn’s courtyard (access off Depot Street through the alley) beginning at 6:00pm so you can visit and take photos. If raining he will move to the lobby of The Capitol Theatre. He will remain downtown following the lighting of the Community Tree at 8:30pm. Bring your iPhone and cameras so you can take your pictures with him at his sleigh or near the tree.
Food throughout Downtown
Brumley’s at the General Morgan Inn is offering a kid friendly buffet at 5 and 7pm, Catalyst Coffee Company, where they are hosting cookie icing stations, The Gentry featuring their new wood-fire pizza and cold brews, Nickel Ridge Winery with beer, wine, charcuterie along with Taco soup, The Tannery Downtown with soups and sandwiches, Corner Garage Bar and Full Throttle serving up smash burgers and fries, and Tipton’s Café serving up their menu will be open. Added for the evening will be Top Dog Hot Dogs, Petro’s on Wheels, Greeneville Graze, and Crave Hot Dogs & BBQ.
Music at the General Morgan Inn
Take the chill off in the lobby of the General Morgan Inn where a warm beverage reception from 6:00pm – 8:00pm may be enjoyed while listening from 6:00pm – 8:00pm to the Greeneville Community Swing Band.
Southern Sanctuaries
Southern Sanctuaries is in its fifth year for Friday night coordinated by The Greene County Partnership Tourism Task Force. During Christmas in Downtown-A Holiday Celebration, churches located in downtown Greeneville will be open between the hours of 6:00pm – 8:00pm for self-guided tours and at some locations musical selections. There is no better time to visit these lovely sanctuaries than at Christmas, to take in the reason for the season as you view and appreciate the beauty of these buildings, some of which date back to the 1700’s. The following eight churches are hosting: on North Main Street will be First Baptist Church, Greeneville Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and First Presbyterian Church with Christ Chapel; on West Church Street is St. James Episcopal Church; on West Summer Street is Central Christian Church; along with Asbury United Methodist Church, Christ United Methodist Church, and Reformation Lutheran Church all on South Main Street.
Attractions Open – Something for all ages.
Visiting the attractions on South Main Street will include The City Garage Car Museum, 210 S Main St, will have “Open House” with free admission from 6:00pm until 9:00pm. In celebration of the holidays the museum will be decked out with holiday decorations throughout their classic car exhibits.
The Greeneville Greene County History Museum at the corner of Main and McKee Streets is open until 8pm. Admission is free. You will find Santa’s Workshop co-hosted with Greeneville Youth Builders. This year’s workshop will offer the young folks some complimentary snacks n’ treats, ornament making/decorating opportunities and fun.
The Bartlett DAR House, former home of Margaret Johnson Patterson Bartlett, Andrew Johnson’s great granddaughter located on West McKee Street, will once again be offering free tours from 6:00 until 8:00 pm.
Celebrate the holiday season at the Dickson-Williams Mansion during a special holiday open house entitled “A Christmas You Can Only Imagine… at the Mansion”. The enchanting evening will recreate the sights, sounds and flavors of an 1850s holiday celebration. Free admission from 5:00 to 8:00pm
QR Code
The QR Code will be posted throughout the event. Once scanned, the evening’s events and locations should be available.
Closed Streets No Parking Within Event Area
Safety is first and foremost so please note that there will be no parking allowed within the event area. West Depot will close early at 12:00pm so the stage can be set. All cars should be off all streets prior to 3:00pm on Friday afternoon or risk being removed. Main Street from Summer to Church Street will be the first to close around so set-up can take place for the holiday market; other streets to immediately follow. Streets involve portions of Summer Street, Main Streets and W McKee Street will close to through traffic. McKee Street residents may enter and exit via Irish Street.
A World of Thanks
Rhonda Humbert, Main Street: Greeneville’s President says “Christmas in Downtown is more than an event – it’s a tradition that brings neighbors, families, and friends together under the glow of holiday lights.” Jann Mirkov, Main Street: Greeneville’s Executive Director states: “The board and I wish to thank the many people who help make this event possible: to Greene County, Town of Greeneville, Greene County Partnership, Public Works for directional signage that points the way to businesses and attractions that are open, Greeneville Energy Authority for getting the festive lighting up to guide our way along with the Greeneville Fire Department and Greeneville Police Department who provide the manpower for a safe evening and celebration. We couldn’t do it without the support of our town and county entities. Thank you everyone. To you, our friends, and neighbors we wish you a wonderful safe holiday season and a very Happy New Year.”
