"A Small Town Christmas"

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Janice Johnson, (423) 351-9480 or (423) 519-

CELEBRATE “A SMALL TOWN CHRISTMAS IN SWEETWATER, TENNESSEE
The shops of downtown Sweetwater invite you to step back in time at the Eighth annual “A Small Town Christmas” on Saturday Nov. 28th.
From 6 to 9 p.m. there will be a variety of activities such as visits with Santa, horse drawn wagon rides, carolers, a marshmallow roast, Victorian costume contest, and holiday treats served at the stores along Main Street, and a hay ride through Sweetwater’s Historic Home District. Children age 13 and under can buy gifts for $1.25 at the Children’s Gift Shop. Some events may be cancelled due to inclement weather.
Santa Claus will set up shop to visit with children and pictures will be available.

“We want to start the holiday season with a feeling of Christmas of yesteryear,” said event co-organizer Janice Johnson.

Co-organizer Bobby Brown encourages people to “escape the traffic jams and crowded department stores and join us for an old-fashion Christmas.”
Registration for the costume contest will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the gazebo with the contest beginning at 6 p.m.

Costumes should be from the 1890-1910 time period and will be judged on authenticity, fabric and construction, and originality. No commercially made or rented costumes, please. The winners will receive cash prizes with the first place winner also receiving gift certificates from several Sweetwater businesses.

Most of the events are free, but people are asked to bring a new unwrapped toy to benefit the Sweetwater Police Department’s Christmas toy drive. There will be various drop-off points throughout town.
A Small Town Christmas is organized by the Antique Merchants Guild of Sweetwater, hosted by the downtown shops and sponsored by The Advocate & Democrat.

For more information about A Small Town Christmas, call Janice Johnson at 351-9480 or 519-0690.