By Teresa Williams

teresa.williams@gaflnews.com



THOMASVILLE — Though exact numbers were not known Monday, Thomasville Main Street officials said the 18th annual Victorian Christmas garnered the biggest crowd ever to attend on Friday night.

“Broad Street was more packed than it has ever been in my 15 years with Victorian Christmas,” said Executive Director Sharlene Celaya. “There was actually a point in time when I felt like I was at Rockefeller Center in New York City on New Year’s Eve.”

Downtown merchants also profited from the event.

“Businesses said this was the best Victorian Christmas they had ever done financially,” said special events coordinator Kim McCray. “Even on Thursday night.”

Celaya said 2004’s event also had more food vendors and entertainment than the previous years. Another plus was the number of people dressed in Victorian garb.

“I think we had an awful lot of people in costume,” said Celaya. “I believe people are discovering how much fun it is to be in costume.”

She said Main Street has received several inquiries since the event about finding costumes for next year.

Some of the popular events were Emperor Dark’s Sideshow Circus and the various forms of musical entertainment on-site.

Celaya said the event would not have been such a success without the community’s help.

“I would like to thank the local citizens who continue to support Victorian Christmas,” she said. “We have great ambassadors for our town. Their love of Thomasville shows when they have an event.”

The employees of Thomasville Main Street have a critique meeting scheduled this week to go over the specifics of the event.

Preparations for the 19th annual Victorian Christmas should begin after July 4, 2005.