The annual Christmas Candlelight Shopping event in Washington saw packed stores and restaurants as shoppers from all over sought to shop here. Downtown Washington merchants say that the crowds of shoppers at last week's Candlelight Shopping event were bigger than any they had ever seen.

"We've been packed all evening," said Boots Gunter, whose Kettle Creek Arms saw shoppers looking for everything from camo to ammo. "I've never seen a crowd like this for Candlelight Shopping. This is the biggest it's been by far, and I haven't even been to The Square yet."

"Several merchants said they had a record day," said Tourism Director Ashley Barnett. "We were thrilled with the crowds for Candlelight Shopping, and I hope they'll come back to shop downtown again and again for Christmas."

Some of the attention during the Candlelight Shopping event was focused on the test of the "Snow on the Square" equipment. "Overall, the snow test went well," Barnett said. "The children were just squealing with delight at the falling snow, and we were able to identify two areas of the snow production where we can really improve for this Friday night's snowfall."

Kids squealed and danced with delight as the "snow" fell during last Tuesday night's test run of the new equipment. The city of Washington is helping add more lighting to The Square, she said, which will make the snow far more visible, more snow machines will be used, and the ten existing machines have been fine-tuned to increase their output of "snow."

This weekend will see a return of Christmas shopping in the snow to The Square downtown at 6, 7, and 8 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday evenings.

"We've gotten great comments about the snow," Barnett said, "and now that we've got the bugs ironed out, I can't wait to show it off every Friday and Saturday night in December!"

On Sunday afternoon, December 6, at 3 p.m., the Washington Little Theater will present "Tidings of Great Joy," a free Christmas concert by Duo Intermezzo, cellist Ruth Berry and pianist Kevin Pollock, at the Bolton Lunceford Playhouse on North Alexander Avenue.

Sunday afternoon is also the time for the annual Tignall Christmas Parade, which will once again bring Santa to visit North Wilkes along with the Tiger marching band

Following that weekend will be the Christmas Town and Country Tour and Colonial Dinner 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.

At the same time, Callaway Plantation will celebrate Christmas at Callaway, with a candlelight tour Friday evening from 4-8 p.m. and open Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. All the houses in the Callaway complex will be decorated for the season

Also on Tour weekend, the Washington Little Theater will present "A Tuna Christmas," a seasonal comedy with two actors, Bradley Barber and Cindy Barrow, 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. With a theme of "Winter Wonderland," organizer Blake Thompson says, the parade will form at the Pope Center at 2 p.m. and step off at 3, traveling down Robert Toombs Avenue and ending at the Washington-Wilkes Elementary School. Floats are expected from many churches, youth groups, civic clubs, and sports teams, along with groups of autos and motorcycles.