‘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 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.
Ribbon Cutting
Celebrate the opening of Main and Depot Streets at a ribbon cutting beginning at 4:00pm. On behalf of the Town of Greeneville and hosted by the Greene County Partnership the ribbon cutting will celebrate the two years long Depot Street Renovation Project and usher in the Christmas Season in Greeneville and Greene County. Come on out and join in the fun. Stay around and spend the evening downtown as the community kicks off the magic of the holidays.
Lighting the Community Tree
December 1st 8:00pm – Candlelight, music and caroling will take place on South Main Street near the County Courthouse lawn beginning at 7:45pm. Greeneville High School Choir will lead everyone up West Depot Street from the entertainment stage to the Community Tree at the Greene County Courthouse on South Main Street will lead off the musical entertainment as the crowd joins in to sing holiday favorites like, “Silent Night” as we await the arrival of Santa and the Winter & Company snowflake fairies to light the Community Christmas tree at 8:00pm. Candle glowsticks will be available for children compliments of Main Street Greeneville while the adults will enjoy the glow of the red and green traditional candles.
Stage is Set for Christmas Music Downtown
New this year will be 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 Choir will start things off at 5:00pm; followed by Tusculum View Chorus at 5:45pm. Chuckey Doak Middle School Chorus will continue at 6:30pm with Greeneville High School Choir rounding out the evening from 7:15pm. At 7:45pm the GHS Choir will lead everyone up West Depot Street to the Community Tree at the Greene County Courthouse on South Main Street to sing Silent Night around the tree prior to the welcome by officials and the arrival of Santa and the Snowflake fairies to light the tree at 8:00pm.
More Music at Other Locations
The Tusculum Brass Band will entertain in front of the Capitol Theatre, on South Main Street, from 6:30pm to 7:30pm. The Andrew Johnson Visitors’ Center on College Street will host the Hal Henard Elementary School Choir from 6:00pm – 6:30pm and the Tusculum Sax Quartet beginning at 6:45pm to 7:30pm. The Andrew Johnson Homestead located on South Main Street across from the City Garage Car Museum will have the Asbury United Methodist Church Children’s Choir preforming from 6:30pm until 7:00pm.
Wagon Rides Downtown, and more
Downtown Things to Do
Public Works will provide holiday wagon rides in downtown during the evening with four loading/unloading areas at North Main and Church Streets; 109 N College Street at Rock City Tap & Lounge; South Main and McKee Streets across from the City Garage Car Museum and West Depot and Irish Streets near Tipton’s Café and Nickel Ridge Winery. 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. Wagon rides are also subject to dry weather conditions.
The 100 block of South Main Street is where vendors with the Depot Street Farmers’ Market can be found and known at press time to include Not Your Grandma’s Jam (gourmet jams and jellies); Summerfield Stitches (embroidery and custom apparel); Spider and the Bee; and 3 Forks Farm.
Merchants Have Extended Hours
The merchants will be open for shopping and dining. Visit with Greeneville Credit Jewelers, Greeneville Antique Market, Coal Miner’s Daughter, Brolin & Bailey Company, Nickel Ridge Winery, Tipton’s Café, Dillinger’s Coffeehouse, Brumley’s at The General Morgan Inn, Tannery, Elevate, Greeneville Graze, Rock City Tap and Lounge, and Towne Square Package Store for special offers and hours. Most merchants will also offer light refreshments.
Santa to be at the Main Street Pocket Park
Santa plans to hang out at Eagle’s Rest Pocket Park on South Main Street beginning at 5:00pm so you can visit and take photos. He will remain downtown following the lighting of the Community Tree at 8:00pm. Bring your iphones and cameras so you can take your pictures with him at the park or near the tree.
Mobile Photo Booth
Look for the mobile photo booth brought to you by Main Street: Greeneville from Now Event Group. So much fun and easy – take your photo; key in your cell number and there you have it.
Food throughout Downtown
Brumley’s at the General Morgan Inn, Catalyst Coffee Company, where they are hosting cookie icing stations, Dillinger’s Coffeehouse, The Tannery Downtown, Rock City Tap & Lounge, The Nickel Ridge Winery, and Tipton’s Café will be open.
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 5:00pm – 6:00pm to Dave’s Jazz Band; 6:00pm – 7:00pm Kris Carlson will begin entertaining with selections of holiday music. Sing along if you will. Kasie Shelnutt will perform from 7:00pm – 8:00pm. Rounding out the evening from 8:00pm – 9:00pm will be Greeneville High School Band Ensemble.
Southern Sanctuaries
Southern Sanctuaries is in its third 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 5:00pm – 8:00pm for self-guided tours. 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; Central Christian Church can be found on West Summer Street 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 5:00pm until 8:00pm. In celebration of the holidays the museum will be decked out with holiday decorations throughout their classic car exhibits.
The Andrew Johnson Homestead, located on South Main Street, welcomes the holidays with candlelight tours of the home provided by the National Park Service beginning at 5:00pm. The Asbury Church Children’s Choir performs at 6:45pm. After your tour enjoy light refreshments.
The Greeneville Greene County History Museum at the corner of Main and McKee Streets is open 5-8pm. Admission is free. You will find Santa’s Workshop cohosted with Greeneville Youth Builders. This year’s workshop will offer the young folks some complimentary snacks n’ treats, ornament making/decorating opportunities and fun.
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 1:00pm so the stage can be set. All cars should be off all streets prior to 3:00pm Friday afternoon or risk being removed. Main Street from Summer to Church Street will be the first to close so set-up can take place for the ribbon cutting; other streets to immediately follow. Streets involve portions of Summer Street, Church Street, College, and Main Streets.
A World of Thanks
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.”
