Like nearly everything in 2020, the Holidays are going to be a little bit (a lot?) different this year.

Normally, the City of Augusta would kick off the Christmas and Holiday season with day-long festival in downtown Augusta.  Typically taking place on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, there'd be specials at local retailers, horse drawn wagon rides, dance performances, the tree lighting (Santa would have the honor of flipping the switch), and fireworks.

Unfortunately, due to anti-coronavirus safety precautions, those events really cannot be held this year.

However, the City of Augusta has an equally impressive Holiday season planned.

As they typically do, the festivities will kick off on Thanksgiving weekend.

At about 6 PM on Friday, November 27th, there'll be a virtual tree lighting in downtown Augusta.  The event will feature Mayor Rollins, the tree donor, and other VIPs.  It will be shown on Augusta's CTV-7.

There'll be several fun events on Saturday, November 28th.

As it is Small Business Saturday, people are encouraged to visit local retailers.  Santa will spend the morning visiting with families in downtown Augusta.  Due to COVID-restrictions, these visits will be by appointment only.  We'll have more details about scheduling a chance to see Santa soon.  And, that afternoon, costumed characters will be roaming Water Street.

At about 1 PM, Santa and his entourage (police cruiser, a fire truck, our station vehicles, and more) will tour the city waving to families along the route.  His trip will take him from Sewall Street, to State Street, to Lincoln School, to Mount Vernon, to Townsend Street, to Gilbert School, to Northern Avenue, to downtown.  Crossing the Kennebec River, he'll roll from Stone Street, to Hospital Street, to Mayfair, to Farrington School, to Cony Street, to Pearl Street, to Hussey School, ending at Williams Park.

The day will end with a MASSIVE drive-in fireworks display at the Augusta Civic Center.  Augusta's fireworks displays never disappoint, but this display is guaranteed to be extra spectacular.  Plus, the Augusta Downtown Alliance will be on hand giving out goodie bags.  People who want to see the fireworks should arrive between 4:30 and 5 PM.  The display is scheduled to start at 5:15 PM.

The celebration, which is being called "12 Days of Augusta" will continue throughout the month of December.  Keep checking back for more detail about the upcoming events.

 

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