FOLEY – While rain delayed events last weekend, Santa Claus is coming to Foley on Friday to help start the holiday season.
Mayor Ralph Hellmich said two days of celebration are planned in downtown Foley this weekend.
“On Friday, we have our Christmas in the Park, where we’ll do our official lighting of the tree since it wasn’t done last weekend. That’s when our special guests, Santa Claus, will arrive,” Hellmich said. “They usually have choirs lined up and so that occurs right at six o’clock and everybody can come down.”
In addition to Santa and the official lighting of the Foley tree, visitors can also see the extensive decorations in the park and surrounding downtown area and displays set up for the Christmas tree decoration contest.
“The Christmas trees that people have decorated, will be on display and it’ll be a great time for people to bring their families out and look at the Christmas Village and all the new lights.” Hellmich said.
Events scheduled for Saturday include the Foley Kiwanis Christmas Parade and the Let It Snow event in Heritage Park.
“That kicks off at 10 o’clock,” Hellmich said. “We’ve lengthened the parade route slightly this year because it has gotten so large the head of the parade was meeting the middle of the parade before we cleared it. So, we’ll be riding in that and then afterwards, you have the Christmas in the Park, Let it Snow, event in Heritage Park.”
The parade and other events were rescheduled from Dec. 2 after rains swept through the area.
Hellmich said that Foley Main Street is also holding its Christmas Open House on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“Main Street has a big open house for all of the businesses downtown that will have different little prizes and things for people to visit.businesses downtown,” Hellmich said. “Our Main Street group is just doing fantastic work.”
Other holiday events include the first Christmas Night Market at the Foley Farmers’ and Fishermen’s Market on Thursday, Dec. 7. The event, which includes artisan vendors crafting gifts, holiday baked goods and food trucks, is from 5 p.m.to 8 p.m.
The Foley Performing Arts Association’s Trim A Tree event continues through Dec. 23 at Tanger Outlet Mall.
“It has all these local vendors and all kinds of Christmas items,” Hellmich said. “The Performing Arts Association has their Christmas venue opened down at Tanger and people can go and see all the local artists that’s going on.”
Trim-A-Tree includes unique Christmas ornaments, decorations and gifts created by local artists and members of the Foley Art Center. Trim-A-Tree is located at Suite 410 at the mall from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.