Staff report
REED BINGHAM STATE PARK — Friends of Reed Bingham State Park (FORB) has announced that “A Christmas With Friends” will take place on Saturday at the park’s beach pavilion at 7 p.m. The annual event’s most popular feature is the parade of lighted boats on the lake with Santa Claus arriving on the last boat.
Park manager Chet Powell got the idea from one of America’s best known painters.
“It’s as close as you’re going to get to being in a Norman Rockwell painting in south Georgia,” Powell said. “We wanted that festive outdoor atmosphere where families can still feel like neighbors, no matter where they’re from, so we’ll have bonfires on the beach and lots of family-friendly activities.”
Powell said that “A Christmas With Friends” is one of the perk’s newest events.
“This will only be our third one and the attendance last year more than doubled from our first year. We expect attendance to at least double again this year,” he said.
Jennifer Glover, the park’s interpretive ranger, is planning for a fun-filled night.
“We’ll have three big bonfires on the beach where folks can stay warm or just enjoy the atmosphere,” Glover said. “There will be live acoustic Christmas music including sing-alongs, games like sack races and hula hoop contests and Friends of Reed Bingham volunteers will provide free marshmallows, chocolate and crackers for kids to make smores at a smaller fire.”
Hayrides will take visitors around the lake and through the campground where most campers will be decorated.
The boat parade will begin at 7:30 p.m., when the lighted boats appear from the north end of the lake. Santa will arrive last, but, according to Glover, his mode of transportation this year will be different.
“From what I understand, he’ll leave the North Pole on a gigantic iceberg and float south on connecting rivers until he gets here. We just hope that it doesn’t melt completely,” she said.
Santa will stay to visit with children and receive their wish lists and pose for photos.
Powell said that FORB is also offering cash prizes for the best decorated boats this year, $100 for first place, $50 for second and $25 for third.
“We decided that a contest would be fun and the money would also help to add to next year’s event,” he said. “Some of these people really put a lot of effort and money into their boat decorations.”
He also said that those who wanted to bring their boats would need to pre-register.
“This is a nighttime event and there are laws and safety issues to comply with,” he said. “We want this year to go as well as the previous two.”
FORB will also have a concessions area offering hot chocolate, coffee and seasonal treats. For more information or to register your boat for the parade, call the park office at (229) 896-3551.
