Story and photos
by KathleenWalls
It's great to find a small town that celebrates an
old-fashioned Christmas with a flair but without the crowds and
traffic. I visited Americus, Georgia for the start of their
Christmas season and loved it.
Windsor Hotel
I stayed at the historic
Windsor Hotel, and it got me into the Christmas spirit with
its cheerful decorations. Built in 1892 and a magnificent
combination of Victorian architecture, it was decorated as it
might have been in its early days. A Christmas tree adorned with
lots of white lights, silvery ornaments and streaming white
ribbons and white flowers reached up past the second-floor
balcony. Garlands with white flowers and white lights were hung
from the balcony rails. The lobby is three stories high, so
guests have a magnificent view from the open balconies around
four sides. The fireplace in the lobby is decorated with a
similar garland and toy soldiers dressed in red and green guard
the 180-year-old mirror on the back wall.
Downtown Americus
Outside, all the streetlights, designed like Victorian era
gas lamps, were decorated with green branches and red ribbons.
Christmas music plays from hidden speakers around downtown.
I visited Art Hive
Studio, where Madison Hernandez, artist and owner, helped me
create a beautiful Christmas ornament out of a cardboard base,
some colored tissues and lots of glitter. Art Hive Studio
focuses on teaching children the arts, something sadly left out
of so many schools today.
Many of the businesses had the windows decorated in Christmas
style. Even the police and fire department building got into the
act. This year's annual Downtown Holiday Window competition was
fierce and incredibly close. The winners are 1st Place: The
Maze, 2nd Place: Three's Company Too, and 3rd Place: Gatewood's
Flower Shop.
The Maze had an incredible display inside, also with their
antique truck decked out in Christmas style.
Rylander Theater
The hundred plus year old
Rylander Theater outdid itself with its Christmas
decorations inside. I got to watch a performance of The
Nutcracker and the stage and entire theater was so
Christmasy. I even got to meet Santa in the lobby.
Americus Christmas Open House
Their Americus Christmas Open House is a spectacular
small-town festival that is reminiscent of Hallmark movies.
Businesses most with decorated windows have special sales,
restaurants are open late, Rylander Park is transformed to Santa
Land.
A DJ plays Christmas carols. I spotted the Grinch on the
street. I think even he was enjoying himself.
Of course, the guest of honor, Santa himself, sits in front
listening to all the little one's wishes.
The park becomes a winter wonderland with snowmen, even an
animated one that looks like the Abominable Snowman and growls
when you approach him, Nutcracker style toy soldiers, lights and
ornaments. Lighted candy canes line a path towards the back
where the trees are. There are about a dozen trees all decorated
in a different style and at p.m. the giant tree that towers over
the smaller ones is lit.
