Annual Watkinsville Christmas Parade, tree lighting planned for Sunday

Staff Reports
·1 min read
FILE - A scene from a previous parade in Watkinsville.
FILE - A scene from a previous parade in Watkinsville.

Downtown Watkinsville will be blocked off from vehicle traffic for five hours Sunday as it hosts a parade, tree lighting and a holiday gift market.

The annual Watkinsville Christmas Parade begins at 4 p.m. at Barnett Shoals Road and continues onto Main Street through downtown where it ends at Experiment Station Road.

Christmas calendar:Here's a list of Christmas and holiday events through December

Christmas foodAthens author pens cookbook that also tells story of mother-in-law's recipes and family

Watkinsville Mayor Brian Brodrick announced that the grand marshal for this year’s parade is Harold Townley, who is retired from Ford Motor Co. and was owner of Townley’s Tree Farm. He has been active in the community and is a longtime volunteer for the football team at Oconee County High School.

Main Street will be closed to vehicle traffic between 2-7 p.m., according to city officials. Alternate routes will be in place.

A Christmas Market is planned 1-6 p.m. in the parking of Watkinsville Christian Church off Main Street. The city plans to hold a tree lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. in front of the Oconee County Courthouse.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Christmas parade, tree lighting planned Sunday for Watkinsville