Parades, music festivals happening throughout Putnam
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Photo submitted by Kitty Miller – Santa and Mrs. Claus participate in a previous Silver Tea & Christmas Bazaar, which will occur this weekend in Crescent City.
Putnam County residents and visitors can make plans to celebrate Christmas early with numerous upcoming local events for all ages.
The Boutique Ladies of the First Presbyterian Church of Crescent City will be the site of the annual Silver Tea & Christmas Bazaar at 9 a.m. at the church’s fellowship hall, 301 Cypress Ave.
Organizer Kitty Miller said Santa Claus will be unable to make this year’s tea, but children can take photos and have cookies with Mrs. Claus from 10–11 a.m.
Miller said children rush into the building every year to see Santa. While Mrs. Claus may be getting older and can no longer have children on her lap, Miller said, children can still sit by her for pictures and cookies.
“They love it,” she said.
The event also includes baked goods, handmade crafts and Christmas decorations. Musicians Dee Goolsby and Wright Simmons will be playing the piano while people enjoy Silver Tea, Miller confirmed.
Miller said she kept busy in the kitchen during last year’s festivities, so she isn’t sure what size crowd to expect.
“We would like to think we’re expecting a big crowd,” she said. “(Last year), we kept filling up the tea table with food.”
– Also happening in Crescent City is the annual Christmas parade, which begins at 1 p.m. Saturday along Summit Street. A holiday market will follow from 2–6:30 p.m. on Central Avenue.
In other parts of the county, the Palatka Haven Attic Resale Store, 2907 Reid St., will open at 10 a.m. Saturday. Santa Claus will stop by from noon until 2 p.m. and a food truck will be outside all day, according to the event page on Facebook.
“(All) of our proceeds support Haven Hospice patients and families in Palatka,” organizers wrote on Facebook. “You can help make this holiday season brighter for those who need it the most by shopping at the Attic!”
– Palatka Porchfest will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday in Palatka. People can listen to music being played on porches throughout the South Historic District until 7 p.m.
The annual music event, which is not Christmas-themed, features a variety of musicians playing gospel, country, rock and other styles of music, according to palatkaporchfest.com. For a full map and schedule, visit palatkaporchfest.com.
– People who enjoy running on the weekends can participate Saturday in the Beck 5K “Reinbeer Run.” As of Wednesday, 95 people had registered to run in the event, which begins at 4 p.m. at 301 River. St. in Palatka, according to the event sign-up page.
People can register at runscore.runsignup.com/Race/FL/Palatka/Beck5K. Registration costs $30 if people sign up by today and $40 on the day of the event.
All proceeds received will benefit the Arc of Putnam County, according to the race’s website registration page.
– Also on Saturday, Azalea City Brewing Co., 120 S. 7th St., will host a Holiday Night Market from 6–10 p.m.
– In West Putnam, Interlachen will host its 27th annual Christmas celebration, “A Southern Christmas,” on Saturday.
The Christmas village opens at 4 p.m. and includes cookies, hot chocolate, hot apple cider, ornament making and train rides for kids. Children can write letters to Santa Claus at the town caboose, 311 Atlantic Ave.
The First Baptist Church Choir will perform at 4 p.m., and the town will host an ugly Christmas outfit contest at 5:30 p.m. at the caboose. The contest will be split into age groups of newborn to 6, 7-17 and 18 or older, according to an event flyer.
The town’s Christmas tree will be lit at 5:50 p.m. and the Christmas parade will be at 6 p.m. downtown with awards to follow at the caboose. Santa will be taking Christmas gift requests at 6:20 p.m. at the caboose, organizers said on the flyer.
