Weeks before Christmas are packed with events, parades, and shopping in the snow

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Wilkes County, as the weeks leading up to the holidays are packed full of events, concerts, and celebrations throughout the area.

With next Saturday's jazz concert by Connye Florance as an appetizer, the season kicks into full swing with the Washington Downtown Development Authority's annual Christmas Candlelight Shopping on Tuesday, November 24. "It's going to snow at Candlelight Shopping!" said Tourism Director Ashley Barnett. "We're going to have the trial run of our new snow machines that Tuesday night, then it'll snow hourly each Friday and Saturday nights during December. We're already getting calls from all over about our snow."

In addition to snowfall, Candlelight Shopping will feature Santa, as always, and special sales by downtown merchants. "Come see how easy it is to shop Washington-Wilkes first," Barnett said, "and see what all our wonderful downtown merchants have."

After that kick-off event, the activities come in rapid fire. Thursday, December 3, starts early with the annual Legislative Breakfast set for 8 a.m. at the Third Shiloh Building, followed that night at 7 by a benefit concert for Calli Nickels by country music artist Ty Herndon at the Old Tignall Gym.

The following night, Friday, December 4, will see a return of Christmas shopping in the snow to The Square downtown, along with a Chamber After-Hours at the Washington-Wilkes Chamber of Commerce.

On Sunday afternoon, December 6, at 3 p.m. the Washington Little Theater will present a free concert with cellist Ruth Berry and pianist Kevin Pollock. That afternoon, too, the annual Tignall Christmas Parade will bring Santa to visit North Wilkes.

The Chamber of Commerce members will hold their annual banquet Thursday night, December 10, at the new high school cafeteria, Barnett said. "Instead of a speaker this year, we'll be focusing on local businesses and business people," she said. "It will be a great time."

Following that weekend will be the Christmas Town and Country Tour on Friday, December 11, and Saturday, December 12. In addition to the many seasonally decorated homes, visitors can enjoy a holiday gift bazaar and gingerbread house display on The Square. See the Washington Historical Foundation website www. historyofwilkes.org for additional details and information on purchasing tickets for this annual event. Volunteers are also needed to help with a variety of activities. Contact Tour chairman Ed Franklin via email at talkofthetown2@hotmail.com.

Opening Tour weekend, the Washington Little Theater will present "A Tuna Christmas" with Bradley Barber and Cindy Barrow, in a seasonal comedy with the two actors presenting 23 hilarious characters. "A Tuna Christmas" will play December 11, 12, 16, 18 and 19, with matinee performances on December 12 and 13.

And finally, Washington's annual Christmas Parade is set for Sunday afternoon, December 13. Just as last year, organizer Blake Thompson says, the parade will form at the Pope Center at 2 p.m. and step off at 3, ending at the Washington-Wilkes Elementary School.