Visitors check out the Christmas merchandise in the Museum of Appalachia’s gift shop during the annual Candlelight Christmas event last year. This year’s event takes place on Dec. 12-13 at the museum in Norris. - G. Chambers Williams III
The annual Candlelight Christmas celebration will be held next week on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 12-13, at the Museum of Appalachia in Norris.
With this event, the museum hopes guests can step back in time and experience the warmth and wonder of an old-fashioned Appalachian Christmas.”
The event features “an evening tour of the museum grounds, beautifully illuminated for the season,” the museum said.
“Visitors can stroll through the pioneer village, where historic log structures are adorned with simple, handcrafted decorations inspired by 19th-century holiday traditions,” the announcement reads. “Select exhibits will highlight artifacts from the museum’s collection that are tied to Christmas, offering a glimpse into how early settlers celebrated the season.”
Hours will be 4-9 p.m. each day, and the museum’s pioneer village cabins will be decorated and festively lit for the occasion.
The city of Clinton and other partners are joining for Tommy Motorsports’ seventh-annual Christmas Toy Drive.
“We’re collecting new, unwrapped toys to bring joy to children in Anderson County who are under the care of the Department of Children’s Services,” a city announcement said. “These children range in age from infants to 18 years old.
“Help us ensure every child has a present to open this Christmas. Your generosity can make all the difference for one of these kids.”
Donations may be dropped off at:
• Tommy’s Motorsports, 2401 N. Charles G. Seivers Blvd.
• Clinton City Hall, 100 North Bowling Street.
• Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank’s office, 100 N. Main St., Room 208.
• The Carlstar Plant in Clinton, 520 JD Yarnell Industrial Parkway.
EDIT: Thursday, Dec. 4 at 5:32 p.m. The Clinton Christmas Parade will begin at 6 p.m. on Saturday night and Bear Stephenson will serve as the Grand Marshal of this year's parade.
Some key holiday events are coming up this weekend in Anderson County as December kicks off, including the Rocky Top Christmas parade Friday evening, and the Clinton and Norris Christmas parades on Saturday evening.
They come on the heels of last weekend’s Shop Small Saturday event in Clinton and throughout the area.
That was intended to promote the idea of patronizing locally owned small businesses for this year’s holiday gift purchases.
This week’s holiday happenings begin at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, with the Rocky Top Christmas tree lighting at City Hall.
On Friday, Dec. 5, the Rocky Top Christmas parade will be held.
It will begin at 7 p.m. at Industrial Park Road and South Main Street, and continue up Main Street to McDonald’s at Interstate 75.
In Clinton, the Christmas tree lighting ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. Friday at the Clinton Community Center.
Then on Saturday, the Clinton Christmas parade will begin at 6 p.m.
Food baskets with a variety of items sit at the Clinton Community Center the night before their distribution. - Ben Pounds
The Clinton Rotary Club sent out 12 food baskets to local families on Tuesday Nov. 25.
Club president Regina Copeland said each basket had one 12-pound turkey, side dishes, a pumpkin pie and snack items. The baskets went to families of Clinton City Schools students in need.
“This is a way our Rotary Club gives back to families in our community,” Copeland said.
The club put together the baskets through donations from club members and funds raised at the Daddy Daughter Dance in February.
“Clinton Rotary Club has been providing similar seasonal needs to the community since its inception in 1980,” said club secretary Amanda Hughes.
“We always welcome partnering organizations who would like to volunteer and support our service projects.”
