my old country house

HOW DOES YOUR TOWN DO THE HOLIDAYS?

NOVEMBER IS HERE…

We were in Chattanooga for the weekend for “The Head of the Hooch Regatta”. Formerly called “The Head of the Chattahoochee regatta” is a 2 day Regatta on the Tennessee river – held the first weekend of November.  It is one of the largest Rowing Regattas in America with over 10,000 rowers and upwards of 2000 boats! And it gave us a chance to visit Chattanooga!

Chattanooga is a very VERY cool little mid-size town with a neat young hip vibe – a revived old Mill town – with mountains and water in view – that is growing into its new identity beautifully. The waterfront area is incredibly well designed and maintained with lots of opportunities for exploration AND THEY have a GREAT Aquarium!!!

PINTEREST – CHATTANOOGA WATERFRONT WALKWAY – WE WATCHED THE REGATTA FROM RIGHT HERE!

As we walked around I noted, stacked next to each lamp-post, gigantic snowflake shaped lights, lying in waiting for their Annual Debut … I imagine today that part of town is amass in snowflakes …signifying the start of the HOLIDAY SEASON…

I DID some poking around and found out that they have an event called “The Grand Illumination” on the Tennessee River to signify the start of the Holiday Season!

THE GRAND ILLUMINATION IN CHATTANOOGA

Damon and I were talking and thought – how sweet it is that every little and big town has their own Holiday tradition. YES – it is ALL over-commercialized and YES – we don’t need all the STUFF to remind of us of what is most important in life – but I DO think that COMING TOGETHER – is very important and that is something that the Holidays does well – it brings people together. Parties, dances, dinners, meals, shows, celebrations ceremonies and Religious Services. All are opportunities to reconnect to our communities and the people that we have a direct impact on every single day.

2010 will go down as one of my favorite Thanksgivings ever. We had 23 people for dinner and the cousins here. It was such a magical week. 
THE COUSINS TAKEN up the street AT MIRADOR..

I would LOVE to hear about YOUR towns traditions and I would love to share some that I find – here.

How do you ring in the Holiday season…or DO you ring in the Holidays? When does it all start for you? Are there volunteer events you take part in – Local parades or tree lighting ceremonies?

Damon and Phoebe started a tradition when she was about 10 – that just those two go get our Christmas  tree. always go get the tree – the day after Thanksgiving – because the kids are all home. One year – (above) They got in the local paper!

No matter what you do – remember to breathe and keep it all in perspective.

PHOEBE – ONE CHRISTMAS MORNING WHEN SHE WAS 1/1/2 – SHE BECAME OVERWHELMED WITH ALL THE HOOPLA, SHE QUIETLY CLIMBED INTO HER ROCKER WITH HER PACIFIER AND BLANKIE AND COMFORTED HERSELF.
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2 thoughts on “HOW DOES YOUR TOWN DO THE HOLIDAYS?

  1. My favorite hometown holiday is actually the 4th of July! Every year our little town in Wisconsin starts off with a parade, and then the festivities continue with beach volleyball tournaments and a cardboard boat regatta in the river. Groups sign up and build their boats out of cardboard and race each other for all the glory! Then into the evening there’s the venetian boat parade where people with sailboats decorate them with lights and themes. Of course the night tops off with the fireworks and it’s all rounded out with copious amounts of potato salad and burgers on the grill!

  2. High school years, Winchester, dinner w my boyfriend’s family then his whole neighborhood gate red around a huge neighborhood tree (back in the 30s your grands, aunt &uncles lived in this neighborhood -before your dad!) And sang carols, then we’d walk downtown where the whole town would gather to carol, then up to the church, where our youth group would get on a bus and go carol at homes of older members who couldn’t get out, then back for the beautiful Christmas Eve service. With luck, snow would start to fall as we walked home. It was magical!

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