Andrews – Mark your calendars for an event that has been loved and anticipated by locals and visitors alike since 2013.
Everyone is invited to the 10th annual Christmas on Main Street festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Enjoy local Christmas shopping and holiday fun with family, friends and friends you haven’t met yet on Main Street downtown, where there will be more than 165 vendors, bake sales and handmade, crafted, original and fun items.
Elementary-age kids will have fun with activities like Christmas-themed games and activities, crafts and a children’s Christmas play area at Reindeer Lane on Chestnut Street, which will include a bounce house, petting zoo, Screaming Snowball Toss, Christmas Bingo with prizes, Make-and-Take Ornaments and more.
There will also be a selfie Santa Photo Booth from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for creating your own holiday memories. Plus, the fun and creative hay sculpture is back this year, as well as the mini-car show displaying automotive eye candy from the classics to futuristic forms of transportation.
At 10 a.m. on the steps of the Andrews United Methodist Church, there will be a Christmas tree dedication with prayer, music, the Christmas tree lighting and Victorian Flash Mob.
The popular Victorian Carolers will be singing and bringing an old-fashioned feeling to Main Street. The first Victorian experience was in November 2017, and it has become a tradition.
The Christmas on Main Street festival will also include food trucks, with plenty to eat and drink. Musical entertainment will include the Andrews school choirs and band.
Other acts to be featured include the Smokey Mountain Gospel Singers, Sundown Band, The Steve Jordan Band and Betty Vaughn & Friends and Roy Perren, who has been singing publicly since he was just a child. His stage attire will be a custom made suit inspired by such performers as Elvis Presley, Porter Waggoner, Marty Robbins and Marty Stuart.
The Crystal Creek Messengers will bring gospel music to the festival. Also performing will be the EKG Harmonizers, a barbershop quartet.
This year for Christmas on Main Street, the Andrews Chamber of Commerce will have its office open to give people a place to warm up or cool down and have a snack. The chamber will provide bottled water, hot chocolate, hot apple cider and cookies.
If anyone has time to bake or buy a dozen or so Christmas cookies, it would be appreciated. Turn-in time is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday. There’s no need for platters, as the chamber has plenty on hand.
Santa and Mrs. Claus will also be set up in front of the chamber, so it may be quite busy.
Main Street’s beautifully handcrafted additions add to the feel of a Christmas from childhood, with wintery sights and scents. The rain date for Christmas on Main will be on Sunday, because this much fun just can’t wait another whole year.
Details: 828-321-2111, Ext. 20; visitandrewsnc.com.