John Oxford
MOULTRIE — The annual Lights! Lights! Thanksgiving Night celebration will be held to kick off the holiday season Thursday, Nov. 26.
City of Moultrie Main Street Director Amy Johnson said the celebration will be held from 6 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. Crossing 47 will be playing music starting a little before 6 p.m., and Santa will ride into town with his reindeer near the beginning to light the Canopy of Lights.
After the lighting, Johnson said there will be a variety of activities set up on the courthouse square, including pony rides, costumed characters, Santa’s reindeer and pictures with Santa. There will also be photographers roaming around the square to take pictures, and Southern Portraits by Charity will be set up at the west end of the square to take family portraits.
The Canopy of Lights has been an annual tradition that was started Dec. 6, 1940, Johnson said. The original canopy around the courthouse was done to welcome back soldiers from World War II and has expanded around the square since then. The lights will be on nightly from Thanksgiving night until New Year’s Eve.
Johnson said there will be over 25 stores open around the square for anyone wanting to get a start on Christmas shopping. Andrew Underdown, artist for the 2009 Christmas ornament, will be signing autographs at Bella Maison Interiors, located on South Main Street.
