THOMASVILLE — Most people from the surrounding area are familiar with Thomasville’s Victorian Christmas Festival — people in Victorian dress, roasting chestnuts, the music, the shopping, the fun. But few ever see all the work that goes into the event beforehand.

Thursday and Friday will mark Thomasvillle’s 28th Victorian Christmas. Main Street Thomasville and store owners have been preparing for the occasion for months.

From shop owners who will experience Victorian Christmas for the first time to those who have been a part of the festival from the very beginning, there is a sense of excitement and anticipation hitting the downtown area.

For Sylvia Kona of At Home In Thomasville, this will be her first Victorian Christmas. When asked what she was doing to prepare, she put her hands of either side of her face, made a crazy expression and said, “Whaaaaa!”

She was just joking, but it showed the fun and hecticness associated with preparing for a big festival.

“We finished decorating. We’re restocking and trying to make the aisle wider so everyone has elbow room. We’re excited,” she said.

For Ron Dixon, owner of Al Dixon Menswear, Victorian Christmas is old hat.

“It’s our 28th year and we look forward to this every year,” Dixon said, “It is the true kickoff for the Christmas season.”

He said the turnout for Victorian Christmas gives a glimpse into the kind of Christmas season his store will have. He and his people were busy stocking shelves.

“Business is always good, but if the weather is good, its even better,” he said.

Lisa Taylor, owner of Loli’s Invitations and Things, said she’s hired a few extra people for the two nights and is busy making her aisles wider for the extra people, too.

She said, “We’re ready!”

Main Street Thomasville has been preparing for months.

“We start at the end of July with the bulk of the work happening at the end of August when we work with the vendors,” explained Felicia Brannen, special events manager. “We have seven people in the office, plus public works, solid waste, CNS, all the city departments, really, helping to put on this event.”

The first week in December saw Main Street staff getting Victorian costumes out of storage for people to rent for the two nights of the Victorian Christmas. The clothes have been provided through the years by private donations and add authenticity and set the scene for this nationally known festival.

Also, during this week, local artist Louann Pilcher worked for approximately 20 hours painting signs for visitors to pose behind. The large plywood boards were constructed and painted white, then Pilcher penciled in the designs before adding the latex house paint that brought the scenes to life.

Visitors will also notice all the festive decorations throughout town.

“It’s that time of year,” said Ashley Smith, Main Street manager, “Our streets have been decked with all kinds of Christmas cheer. And we have the Thomasville Electric Department to thank!”

She continued, “These guys worked through the freezing cold and rainy days to ensure our downtown is covered, from red bows down to the toy soldiers’ toes. We are grateful for their handiwork.”

Smith said five of the electric department’s workers contributed approximatley 200 hours to embellishing downtown over the course of three weeks.

The event started small back in the mid 1980s and was designed to bring people downtown.

It has grown to a signature Thomasville festival which lures thousands of visitors to downtown Thomasville.

“We attract 15,000 people each night and they’re not the same crowd each night. The Victorian Christmas has a tremendous economic impact on Thomasville. Visitors are eating, shopping, and in some cases staying in local hotels here,” said Brannen.

Food vendors and artisans will line both sides of Broad Street and Jackson Street. A live Nativity and carriage rides will be on Jefferson Street. Santa, live performances and artificial snow will be on Remington Avenue.

Michael Horne of Al Dixon Menswear said, “Can’t wait. Everybody’s in a good mood. Family and friends visit from out of town and we get to see a lot of people we don’t see very often. I really look forward to it.”