The light from Cornelia’s big red apple cut through the early winter dusk and pulled people toward the Christmas in Cornelia event. Families moved along the brick-trimmed sidewalks as if on a southern yellow brick road, walking toward a figure in a bright coat.
Strings of lights trimmed the depot, giving it the look of a gingerbread house. A local police escort announced Santa’s arrival, and children pressed forward, either hurrying along sidewalks or running down the hill and across the tracks, tugging at a parent’s arm. At the same time, a mother reminded a child to keep a coat on, and a father chided his son not to push his brother, as Santa took his place in the velvet throne inside the station. Just outside, fire pits mixed with the scent of food from the row of trucks parked near the market entrance. Families stopped for warm drinks before finding seats near the heaters or returning to the sidewalks.
Vendors lined Hodges Street with tables of candles, freeze-dried candies, handmade jewelry, and crocheted animals. Jessica Ford of Yesterway Candles remarked that business remained steady.
Families moved between the market stalls and the meeting spots for the costumed characters placed throughout the downtown area. The Ice Queen waited inside the Axe Armory in a pale blue gown woven with ice and stitched with snow. Her long braid and kind smile drew children who glimpsed her through the wide window and pushed through the door. Inside, owner Matthew Hill said he was glad to host her and the families who came with her. The Grinch stood outside Bigg Daddies and posed for a stream of photos. A second Santa greeted families at the corner building just across the tracks on Main Street.
Some families chose to eat at the food vendors, while others preferred local venues like Fenders, Bigg Daddy’s, and other nearby eateries. These venues were fairly busy as families stepped inside to warm up and dine before returning to the festival. Music carried down North Main as a wandering minstrel played while visitors snacked on funnel cake, sipped hot cocoa, and stopped for pictures at decorated corners of downtown. Hayrides pulled out from the depot and took groups through the lights in Cornelia City Park.
Mike Owensby set up near the fire pits with trays of handmade sweets priced with families in mind. Parents and children gathered around the tables, taking a break from the crowds while they ate. The fire pits became gathering points for neighbors who had not seen each other since last year’s event or since church on Sunday.
City workers, volunteers, and downtown business owners moved through the festival to keep lines flowing and clear space for strollers. Noah Hamil of Cornelia, the organizer of the evening’s event, walked the route with meals for vendors and checked on stations throughout the evening. He called the festival the city’s “most magical night of the year” and spoke with visitors who had traveled in from surrounding towns.
The festival stretched across several blocks and held the crowd until the final hayride returned to the depot. Families lingered at the base of the Big Red Apple before heading to their cars, taking last pictures under the lights threaded through the square. By the time the vendors packed up their tables, the brick sidewalks had cooled, and the sound of the festival had faded from downtown. The apple still glowed over the depot, marking the end of one of Cornelia’s favorite nights of the year.
