Shoppers looking for that special gift will be filling Washington stores Tuesday night for Candlelight Shopping, kicking off the Christmas shopping and event season. Next Tuesday night's Candlelight Shopping will kick off a Christmas season full of activities and events that packs the holiday calendar in Washington-Wilkes with tours, concerts, and other events.

"I know tight budgets are making everyone want to make every gift special," Tourism Director Ashley Barnett said. "And more and more we're realizing that we need to shop first in Washington to keep our money, our jobs and our stores here."

Beta Sigma Phi is offering Santa pictures at the Chamber of Commerce, Barnett said, and The Gym Frogs will perform at 6:30 p.m. on The Square. "And the Wilkes County Dairy Show Team will be offering pictures taken with a Christmas calf. I can't wait!"

Shops stay open until 9 p.m., and sponsor Downtown Development Authority will be awarding prizes in Downtown Dollars in $100, $50, and $25 amounts.

Also during Candlelight Shopping, the Wills Memorial Hospital Auxiliary "Christmas Tree of Love" will be lit on The Square in honor of and in memory of loved ones, and the Washington Kiwanis Club will raffle a "Lil' Red Pedal Train" for the kids.

But those events are just the beginning of Christmas in Washington Wilkes.

The Washington Little Theater will present "The Sanders Family Christmas," a sequel to "Smoke on the Mountain," on December 5 and 6 at 8 p.m., and on Sunday December 7 at 2 p.m. at the Bolton Lunceford Playhouse.

That Saturday will see the annual return of the Episcopal Women's annual Bazaar with gifts, jams and jellies, baked goods, and crafts at the Parish House of the Church of the Mediator. The bazaar opens at 10:30 and the luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m.

Then it's tour time. Always a favorite in years past, the annual Christmas Tour of Homes December 12-13 will put the spotlight on several of Washington's and Wilkes County's beautiful old homes decorated for the holidays.

Three ticket packages are available for the Christmas Tour of Homes, including Candlelight Tour 5-9 p.m. Friday evening for $30; the Town & Country Day Tour (Saturday only, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.) for $30; or the Saturday Combination Ticket, which includes the Town & Country Day Tour, Twilight Champagne Reception, and Colonial Dinner for $65. The Premier Ticket combines all of the tour activities for $85. Single-house tickets are $5.

Additional information may be obtained by calling The Washington Wilkes Historical Foundation (toll free 877-221-7689), 706-678-5001, 706-678-2105, or by going to the Foundation's website Historyofwilkes. org.

Adding to the Tour that weekend will be Christmas at Callaway and old-time Christmas vignettes at The Robert Toombs House.

Friday evening, December 12, Christmas at Callaway will show off the five historic homes of Callaway Plantation decorated in authentic period Christmas decorations.

The staff at Callaway Plantation is asking for help from individuals, groups, or businesses to help decorate. Rooms, on a first-come, firstserved basis, may be adopted and the City of Washington will provide cedar, holly, smilax, magnolia foliage, and mistletoe from the woods around the Plantation. Decorating will begin on December 4 and should be completed by December 7. Any person, group, or business who can assist with decorating is asked to call 706-678-7060.

That Saturday, December 13, the Robert Toombs House will present "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. "This Victorian favorite will be an ongoing presentation that will capture your heart," said Marcia Campbell. Dickens characters present scenes in each room, and "the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future will present a haunting performance as they guide visitors through the Robert Toombs House."

Washington's annual Christmas Parade is set for December 14 at 3 p.m. Floats and marchers will line up at the Pope Center at 2 p.m. for the trip down Robert Toombs Avenue to the elementary school. For more information, contact Blake Thompson at 706-678-7837.

And throughout the season, every one of the scores of churches throughout Wilkes County will be holding special Christmas services to remember "the reason for the season." Watch The News-Reporter for a listing of special Christmas events for each church.