Communities schedule numerous Christmas activities

A busy schedule of holiday events began Thanksgiving night with the lighting of the courthouse Christmas tree in Quitman and continues with lots of activities this week and beyond.

Alba will hold its annual Christmas pageant Thursday, Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. on the square.

The Christmas parade will be held Saturday, Dec. 20 at 6 p.m. following the Alba Fire Dept.’s chili cookoff at 5 p.m. Parade line up is at the community center at 5:30 p.m. There will also be cookie decorating at the fire hall and photos with Santa after the parade.

In Mineola, the annual Main Street Window Decorating Contest will be judged on Thursday, Dec. 4. 

Magical Mineola returns for the third year Friday, Dec. 5, with activities downtown from 5-9 p.m. Events include two snow hills, reindeer, mini-train rides, pony rides, a Christmas maze, the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who, ham radio contact with Santa, Santa letter writing, live entertainment, free hot chocolate and the community tree lighting.

The Mineola Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its annual lighted Christmas Parade downtown on Saturday, Dec. 6.  Theme is Home for the Holidays.

There will be a small Christmas Market on S. Johnson St. starting at 4:30 p.m. with the parade beginning around 5:30 p.m. After the parade wraps up, Santa Claus will head over to the downtown gazebo for families to take pictures. 

See Page 2 for a complete run down of the holiday tour of homes Sunday, Dec. 7.

Quitman hosts a day full of activities downtown and at Jim Hogg City Park Saturday from noon-8 p.m. and includes snow globe pictures, letters to Santa, a faux “snow” play zone, a Winter Wonderland Walk, Christmas movies, vendors, food trucks and more.

There will be a Christmas parade at 5 p.m.; following the parade, the park will feature a live nativity, cookie decorating, a petting zoo and “Santa Selfies.”