Let the festivities begin

HAHIRA — Lowndes County residents lined Hahira’s Main Street Saturday to get a glimpse of Santa and catch fistfuls of candy during the parade portion of Hahira’s Christmas Bazaar.

The smell of funnel cake and chili filled the warm air as attendees, some of whom were dressed in Christmas shirts, strolled along Main Street eyeing what vendors had to offer.

Carol Jacobs, coordinator for the Better Hometown event, said she expected about 5,000 people to attend throughout the day.

Jacobs credited the warm weather to help bring people to the bazaar.

Santa took a break from all his other Christmas commitments in the area Saturday to appear in the parade and spend some time listening to children’s requests in the Hahira Courthouse.

After voicing their desires to Santa, the children were offered hot chocolate and cookies.

Angela Pollard, 7, of Hahira, attended the event with her mother, April, and her brother and sister.

Angela said she came to see the horses in the parade, but she admitted she wanted to see Santa more than the horses.

After the Georgia Bridgemen made their way down Main Street playing Jingle Bells, 5-year-old Jordan Fontaine ran into the street to collect his candy. His mother, Becky, knew her son was there for the candy.

The Valdosta Fire Department Pipes and Drums, Mayor Myron Crowe and his wife, Jessica, the Hahira Honeybee Queen, Lowndes Fire and Rescue and many others made an appearance in the parade.

Jacobs said she was pleased with the outcome.

“People enjoy this,” she said. “It brings people closer together. We are hoping this bazaar will grow and be bigger.”