The Festival of Trees will be on display at the Tifton Museum of Arts and Heritage. These trees were from the 2017 display.

TIFTON — The theme for the 20th annual Hometown Holidays Christmas Celebration, scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 1, is “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.”

The weekend of Nov. 29 through Dec. 2 will officially open the month’s festivities.

The Downtown Christmas Open House and Holiday Stroll will be on Nov. 29 and will feature participating merchants throughout Tifton. Shoppers can sample refreshments and look at storefront decorations while they shop.

The Tifton Museum of Arts and Heritage will host the annual Hall of Christmas Trees and Mini Festival of Trees beginning on Nov. 29 as well. The Hall of Christmas Trees is sponsored by the Tifton Council of Garden Clubs.

The Mini Festival of Trees is a joint effort from the Exchange Club of Tifton and the Kids Advocacy Coalition. Children who participate in the KAC after-school program will make handmade ornaments for mini trees. Each tree will have a different theme.

On Saturday, Dec. 1 the Rotary Club of Tifton and the Tift County Recreation Department will present Breakfast with Santa at the TCRD gym located on Victory Drive.

The event will be from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children at the door.

The 14th annual Kiwanis Run for the Kids starts at 1 p.m. on Dec. 1. Proceeds benefit youth charities sponsored by The Kiwanis Club of Tifton. Contact Richard Golden at (229) 445-1531 or Tom Shoup at (229) 388-2142 for more information.

The Christmas parade kicks off the downtown celebration at 5 p.m. with Larry and Joyce Mims leading as grand marshals.

The route this year begins at 2nd Street and Magnolia Avenue, travels east on 2nd Street, takes a left on Main Street and ends at the corner of 8th Street and Love Avenue.

Immediately after the parade ends the downtown holiday festivities are open to the public.

The celebration will feature free zip lining, carnival rides, ice skating, four stages with live entertainment, vendors and shopping and dining. The UGA Candy Cane Express will take attendees down to Fulwood Park to see the Festival of Lights as well.

The Tiftarea House of Hope’s playhouse raffle drawing will be Dec. 1 as 7:15 p.m. at the Tifton Mall, where the playhouses are on display. Proceeds will go towards supporting the Tiftarea House of Hope shelter for homeless women and children.

On Sunday, Dec. 2 the weekend will wrap up with Merry Christmas Tifton, a musical celebration put on by First Baptist Church of Tifton, at 6 p.m. at the church.