Christmas events continue this week in Clinton, Oak Ridge
In 2022, Ron Lightly works on balloon animals for kids lined up on Market Street during downtown Clinton’s Holiday Market event, which returns this weekend for 2024. (photo:G. Chambers Williams III )
On Saturday (Dec. 14) will be the annual Holiday Market sponsored by the Historic Downtown Clinton Merchants Association, held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
It will include the brick-and-mortar stores, along with street vendors, food trucks and more.
Associated with the Holiday Market will be the Cookie Crawl from 1-4 p.m. It will feature free cookies and other refreshments in the stores, along with visits from Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus and The Grinch.
Oak Ridge’s Christmas parade will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday. Its theme this year is “Home for the Holidays.”
The parade will form at Corporate Center (151 Lafayette Drive) and turn West onto the Oak Ridge Turnpike, then proceed to the Oak Ridge High School area.
Also on Saturday, Norris Dam State Park will present its annual old-time Christmas in the Park event at the Lenoir Museum, Gristmill, and Crosby Threshing Barn from 4 to 8:30 p.m.
It’s free for the family, and will include children’s crafts, warm drinks, a pie supper auction, live folk music, and Santa Claus.
The activities are just off Norris Freeway (U.S. 441) between Andersonville Highway and Norris Dam.
Non-perishable food donations will be collected for local food banks.
The silent pie auction will be held from 4-7 p.m. at the Crosby Threshing Barn. You do not have to be present to win; the winners will be announced or called at 7 p.m.
Kids can meet at the bonfire pit in front of the Threshing Barn at 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. to “Read with a Ranger,” where one of the park rangers will read aloud a Christmas story.
The barn will also feature “make your own ornament” stations.
Live music will be in the Lenoir Museum, along with crafts.
Next week:
• Oliver Springs will round out the Christmas parade season this year beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21.
• On Friday and Saturday, Dec. 20-21, the annual Museum of Appalachia Candlelight Christmas event will be held from 4-9 p.m. both days.
Purchase tickets at the museum or online at museumofappalachia.org.
The museum is on Andersonville Highway in Norris.
