Grovetown, Evans welcome the season

Columbia County officially rang in the Christmas season last weekend with tree-lighting ceremonies and parades in Grovetown and Evans.

Grovetown began its holiday season Friday as the tree lighting illuminated the intersection of Old Wrightsboro Road and Robinson Avenue.

Abby Hackett, 2, of Grovetown, swayed to the Christmas carols of the Grovetown Middle School band and chorus and waved to Santa Claus as he arrived on a golf car.

It was the thousands of lights that had her mesmerized, though. As each of the five lighting sections was turned on, Abby's smile grew large and her eyes widened in surprise.

"She just lit up," said Grovetown resident Winnie Nobles, of her great-granddaughter, who planned to ask Santa for a Barbie computer.

On Saturday, Grovetown held its 35th annual Christmas parade along Robinson Avenue. Candy rained down on the crowd from dozens of floats while the Harlem High School and Fort Gordon Signal Corps marching bands spread Christmas cheer with renditions of holiday classics.

Susan Lay, a teacher at Grovetown Elementary School, brought her 6-month-old daughter, Elizabeth, to her first Christmas parade and filmed the event for the child to watch when she grows up. By the midpoint of the parade, Elizabeth had to take a break from all the excitement.

"It exhausted her out. She's sleeping," Lay said.

As night fell and temperatures dropped , spectators covered the lawn of the Columbia County Amphitheater and Memorial Garden for the sixth annual Christmas in America celebration.

The event began at its new home with a visit from Santa and was followed by a sing-along led by the 500-member Columbia County Elementary School Mass Chorus. Other entertainment included a performance by the Vineyard Church Praise Band and the lighting of the county's Christmas tree by television station WJBF's Jennie Montgomery; Nina Talukadar, the Columbia County Fair Queen; and Penny Barclay, the Columbia County Teacher of the Year.

Patricia Screws, of Martinez, brought her 2-year-old son, Payton, to his third Christmas in America celebration. She said the event helped her family begin the holiday season.

"We enjoy it. It's always really good," she said of the music and tree-lighting. She said the lightings have taken on new meaning to her since Payton was born.

"And he loves the lights," she said.

During the festivities, The Augusta Chronicle announced 5-year-old Evans resident Claire Cates as the winner of its quarterly Make Kids Count $10,000 college scholarship bond. Vienna Elmgreen, 6, also of Evans, took the second-place $5,000 bond.

Rounding out the weekend of Christmas events, the Merchants Association of Columbia County held its annual Martinez-Evans Christmas Parade on Sunday.

The parade followed the route established last year as more than 100 floats, marching bands and civic clubs went south on Ronald Reagan Drive, then east on Washington Road before finishing near Bel Air Elementary School.

Were you Spotted at the Martinez-Evans Christmas Parade?

      Click here to find out

View and share photos FREE at spotted.augusta.com.

Were you Spotted at the Christmas in America Celebration?

      Click here to find out

View and share photos FREE at spotted.augusta.com.