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Christmas comes to Charlotte County in a variety of ways this weekend. We’ll have a series of parades in the area, including a possible visit from Santa Claus, followed by a tradition several decades old to wrap things up on Sunday. Let’s go through these one at a time. 

Keysville Christmas Parade

Keysville gets things started on Friday, Dec. 6, with the town’s annual Christmas parade starting at 7 p.m. The seasonally decorated procession will make its way down King Street, Mary Knoll Lane and finally, onto Southern Drive. 

Now the parade happens at night for a very similar reason as the one in Farmville last Sunday. Everyone loves to see Christmas lights and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to do just that. There’s more than 80 different groups in the parade. Some are high school bands, performing Christmas tunes as they march by. Others are churches and businesses, with floats covered in Christmas lights. And of course, there’s a certain red-suited visitor who will be dropping by as well. 

Awards will be given out for the best decorated floats, vehicles, and equipment. According to town officials, specific entrees are not being made public because of this. 

Town of Phenix pulls double duty

Meanwhile, Phenix celebrates one day later. The Christmas on Main Parade will bring holiday cheer to the town beginning at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7. The procession of seasonal floats and vehicles will pull out of Park Street and head to the right on Route 40 and go down Main Street, then hang a left by the Bank of Charlotte County, before making a u-turn by the fire department. 

Parade-goers can look forward to entries from marching bands, civic organizations, local businesses, and equipment with the Town of Phenix focusing on the holiday spirit rather than awards for the best festively adorned local floats, vehicles and equipment. Local vendors will be offering unique holiday gifts and sweet treats throughout the event for attendees looking to get some holiday shopping done. And things aren’t done after the parade. People can make their way to 6860 Main Street for the annual tree lighting ceremony. 

Charlotte Court House continues tradition

Finally, the weekend wraps up with a trip to Charlotte Court House. This marks the 37th year the town has held a tree lighting event, which will take place this year on Sunday, Dec. 8. There will be cookies, hot cocoa and hot cider, with music from The Still Waters Band and a Christmas message from the mayor before the lights go up. This will be at the Old Courthouse Lawn, beginning at 5 p.m.