Christmas In Downtown Greeneville This Friday

Wednesday, December 1, 2021

Christmas in Downtown - A Holiday Celebration is this Friday.

Candlelight, music, and caroling will take place on South Main Street near the Greene County Courthouse lawn beginning at 5:30 PM. Tusculum View Chorus, under the direction of Cindy Sams, will present their Christmas program at 5:40 as the crowd joins in to sing holiday favorites like "Silent Night" by candlelight before lighting the Community Christmas tree at 6:00. Bagpiper Mike Greenham will play on the porch of Greeneville Town Hall while awaiting the arrival of Santa and the snowflake fairies that will assist in lighting the Town Hall Tree at 6:20 PM.

Tusculum View Chorus will be singing on the stage in front of the Capitol Theatre beginning at 5:40. Rounding out the remainder of the evening will be: Chuckey-Doak Middle School at 6:00 PM, followed by EastView School at 7:00 PM. Closing out the evening's musical performances in front of the Capitol Theatre will be Main Street Carolers from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM. Other holiday tunes and carolers can be heard as you wander downtown.

Greeneville Public Works will provide holiday wagon rides in downtown during the evening with the loading area taking place mid-block on West Depot Street right across from Tipton's Café and near Nickel Ridge Winery. Another loading area is planned on South Main Street. Loading locations are subject to change based on the redevelopment taking place downtown.

On the front lawn at First Presbyterian Church on North Main Street will be where children are encouraged to make holiday crafts with Teresa Shephard. Vendors with the Depot Street Farmers Market will include Not Your Grandma's Jam (gourmet jams and jellies); Grandview Acres (baked goods and candies); Bob's Wood Art and Crafts (hand-carved wood gifts); Summerfield Stitches (embroidery and custom apparel) and Knitter in the Woods. They will be setup along Main Street.

The merchants will be open for shopping and dining. The Depot Street Downtown Improvement Project might make things a challenge but please note that several of the merchants have a second entrance off the General Morgan Inn parking lot.

Santa will be downtown at the Community Tree around 6:30 PM.

In the lobby of the General Morgan Inn, a warm beverage reception will take place while listening from 6:00 PM to 6:45 PM to Leslie Vaughn and students playing and singing around the baby grand piano. At 7:00 PM, Kasie Shelnutt will play while the Greeneville Theatre Guild Carolers will sing holiday selections. Strolling Carolers with the Theatre Guild and Kris Carlson on guitar will also perform downtown.

Southern Sanctuaries is a new event for Friday night coordinated by the Greene County Partnership Tourism Task Force. During the Christmas in Downtown Holiday Celebration, churches located in downtown Greeneville will be open between the hours of 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM for self-guided tours. The following eight churches are hosting: First Baptist Church, Greeneville Cumberland Presbyterian Church, First Presbyterian Church with Christ Chapel, St. James Episcopal Church, Central Christian Church, Asbury United Methodist Church, Christ United Methodist Church, and Reformation Lutheran Church.

The City Garage Car Museum, 210 South Main Street, will have "Open House" with free admission from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM. In celebration of the holidays the museum will be decked out with holiday decorations throughout their classic car exhibits.

The Andrew Johnson Homestead, located on South Main Street, will welcome in the holidays with candlelight tours of the home provided by the National Park Service beginning at 5:00 PM. After your tour, enjoy hot cider and cookies.

The Bartlett DAR House, former home of Margaret Johnson Patterson Bartlett, Andrew Johnson's great granddaughter, located on West McKee Street, will once again be offering free tours from 6:00 until 8:00 PM. Besides the regular tour of the facility with tour guides in each room to explain the furniture and history of the house and family, the DAR members will be highlighting some Revolutionary Patriots - Sparling Bowman, John and Jacob Neas, John Ottinger, and Frederick Cutshall - with their histories and information about their descendants who are currently members. They will be serving punch and cookies to all visitors.

The Greeneville/Greene County History Museum at the corner of Main and McKee streets is open 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Admission is free. You will find Santa's Workshop cohosted with Greeneville Youth Builders. This year's workshop will offer the young folks some complimentary snacks and treats and ornament making/decorating opportunities.

Main Street: Greeneville Board and supporters wish to thank the many people who help make this event possible.