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Atlantic Station offers ice skating at the largest outdoor rink in metro Atlanta.
Credit: Atlantic Station
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Longing for the Christmases of childhood? These Georgia holiday events offer comfort and joy
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LISTEN: GPB's Kristi York Wooten goes behind the scenes of some of the most popular holiday events in Georgia.
Across the state as communities prepare for holiday tree lighting ceremonies, concerts, art exhibitions, stage shows and more, a theme is emerging: nostalgia.
On a rooftop above the crowd at the annual tree lighting at Atlantic Station in Midtown Atlanta Saturday night, the countdown began.
"5 - 4 - 3 -2 -1," thousands cheered.
The synchronized bulbs on the 50-foot tree twinkled in time to the music as a DJ played Mariah Carey's version of “Santa Claus is Comin' to Town” and children ice skated and held their hands up to catch falling flakes of fake snow. Coincidentally, Carey herself was just 2 miles away, performing her Christmas songs at State Farm Arena. But here at this pre-Thanksgiving holiday kickoff in Midtown Atlanta, though the scene was not as wintry as a Currier and Ives postcard, a nostalgic vibe filled the air.
Meanwhile, in Macon, the city is preparing to launch its Christmas Light Extravaganza and Macon Pops Christmas Spectacular on Friday, an installation which boasts 1 million lights on Main Street and features a concert by the award-winning Macon Pops and their jazzed-up versions of classic carols for all ages. After the initial live event, the music continues as recordings of Macon Pops' tunes accompany the light show every evening through Jan. 3.
Grammy nominee and drummer Steve Moretti and Grammy winner and arranger Matt Catingub formed the Macon Pops in 2013. Moretti said he hopes people who are looking for joy and an escape to a simpler time will find it this season.
"When Matt and I are on stage, it's really such an incredible experience and we always feel like we're in a Hallmark movie," he said, "Just the vibe of everything: the kids, the families and everyone having such a great time and just forgetting about what's happening for 90 minutes is is really such a unique experience. And then sometimes, I'll just pop downtown randomly on a night with my family [the see the light show] and little kids start dancing or people start dancing in the street. It's just fun to know that we have a small part in bringing joy to people's lives, it's pretty amazing."
Other upcoming events across the state (see list below for details) include the Savannah Christmas Market; the annual tree lighting in Valdosta, Christmas at the Museum: A Holiday Festival in Columbus, Christmas on Green Street in Gainesville, a Hanukkah Family Fun Day in Atlanta and battling Irish tap dancers at A Celtic Christmas by a Taste of Ireland in Albany.
Plus, there's the 98th annual Morehouse and Spelman Christmas Carols Concert, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra's traditional version of Handel's Messiah and memories of childhood at A Charlie Brown Christmas Live on Stage.
Over at the Center for Puppetry Arts, a classic tale of triumphing over differences after an odyssey of discovery is really putting people in their feels: It's Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
The puppet show's executive producer Tim Sweeney, artistic director Jason Hines, and puppeteer Sarah Beth Hester told GPB about their memories of the beloved Rankin/Bass TV special which first aired on TV in 1964 and inspired their production, which is in its 14th year at the Center.
"I don't remember when I first saw [the stop-motion TV special], but when we were producing [the puppet show], there was no book, no like designs to go through," Sweeney said of creating the puppets for the production. "So I rewatched it over and over and over for months to really try to get the look of every single one."
"I would say the same," Hines said. "I probably watched it every year since I've been born. It was always such a special event in our family. We, you know, popped popcorn. My parents let me drink soda. Without even doing [this puppet production of] the show — and we always watch the special, usually in rehearsal — I still watch it during Christmas season with my kids."
"Yeah, I mean, I've been watching it as long as I can remember," Hester said. "This show, this movie, this special. And it's absolutely so special to me because it ultimately helped me find my career."
When asked if there's a wave of nostalgia driving people to get into the holiday spirit during a time of uncertainty and division and whether Rudolph brings audience that comfort, Hines said, "I've got a sense that people are wanting a little Christmas early this year, for whatever reason, in the face of all that stress, to just put a little joy out there, whether with Christmas lights or — you know, we've had actually a pretty good turnout for Rudolph so far this year. And I guess you could chalk some of that up to that feeling."
Events around the state
- Macon Christmas Light Extravaganza and Macon Pops Christmas Spectacular through Jan. 3 on Main St. in Macon, Ga.
- Savannah Christmas Market at the Plant Riverside District in Savannah, Ga., through Dec. 31
- Valdosta Tree Lighting on Dec. 6 at Unity Park Amphitheater in downtown Valdosta, Ga.
- Christmas at the Museum in Columbus: A Holiday Festival on Dec. 7 at the National Civil War Naval Museum in Columbus, Ga.
- Christmas on Green Street in Gainesville: Parade and musical performances on Main St. in Gainesville, Ga., on Dec. 8
- A Celtic Christmas by A Taste of Ireland in Albany on Dec. 12 in Albany, Ga.
In Atlanta
- Atlantic Station: Skate the Station through Jan. 20
- Hanukkah Family Fun Day at the MJCC on Dec. 25
- Morehouse and Spelman Christmas Carols Concert on Dec. 6 and 8 at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Chapel at Morehouse; Dec. 7 at Sisters Chapel at Spelman College
- Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chamber Chorus present Handel's Messiah on Dec. 19 at Atlanta Symphony Hall
- A Charlie Brown Christmas Live on Stage on Dec. 18 at Atlanta Symphony Hall
- Center for Puppetry Arts presents Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer through Dec. 29 at The Center for Puppetry Arts
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