Christmas cheer filled the air and the streets of Nashville last weekend with many opportunities for holiday fun happening throughout town.
The first weekend of December was a busy one for Nashville. The festive weekend kicked off with the new Christkindl Market at Coachlight Square on Friday. Visitors and residents alike stopped by different artisan and food booths, picking up Christmas gifts, a bag of German roasted nuts from J&K Sweet Shop or a mug of spiced red wine from Brown County Winery.
Live music was in the air each day of the market, Dec. 3 and 4. Christmas carols could be heard from the stage set up at Coachlight Square as some took the opportunity to dance to classics, like “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”
The town’s littlest residents and visitors also had a chance to visit with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus at the Visitors Center. Some grabbed a stocking from the Brown County Community Foundation and made their way through multiple shops, picking up gifts on Dec. 4.
The weekend of fun did not stop there.
On Dec. 3, the annual Children’s Christmas Benefit Auction was at the Brown County Inn, raising money for children in need. “Believe: The Magic of Christmas” took center stage at the Brown County Playhouse that night, too.
Santa made a stop with his train in Helmsburg at the Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Department.
The weekend also included the Reindeer Romp 5K and 8K at the Brown County State Park on Dec. 4.
As the sun went down on Dec. 4, Van Buren and Jefferson streets were lined with people young and old eagerly awaiting the annual Holiday Light Parade. Some even donned their brightest red and green outfits with light up headbands and necklaces, showing off their Christmas cheer.
Floats and vehicles covered in Christmas lights made their way down the parade route, honking their horns and sharing holiday cheer. Those walking in the parade were sometimes covered head to toe in lights, wishing merry Christmas to everyone.
The parade had 235 participants and 700 toys were collected for children in the community with more still coming in. Toys can still be donated at the Visitors Center during regular business hours, 211 S. Van Buren St.
Before the busy first weekend of December, the season officially kicked off the day after Thanksgiving on Nov. 26 with the annual Community Christmas Tree Lighting at the Brown County History Center. Santa and Mrs. Claus were there too, visiting with children and posing for photos in the Gnaw Bone Log Room.
And then the first weekend of December was over in Nashville just as quickly as it arrived, leaving more holiday cheer behind.
