Around Kennesaw

Letter From the Editor

Something about this time of year makes people reflect on the past, and I’m no different. Decorated trees and favorite carols always take me back to the Christmases I celebrated as a kid. During this year’s holiday trip down memory lane, I’ve been thinking about the Christmas celebrations I used to go to that aren’t around anymore.

One of my favorites was the lighting of the Rich’s Christmas tree in Atlanta. Each year, we’d ride the MARTA train downtown on Thanksgiving night and join thousands of revelers in welcoming the start of the Christmas season. We’d watch choral groups perform on the four-story Crystal Bridge that linked Rich’s with its next-door neighbor. Then came the culmination of the evening — lighting the live tree, which ranged from 65 to 75 feet and featured thousands of lights and basketball-size ornaments. Sadly, that tradition ended when the store closed in 1991.

Another favorite event also was in downtown Atlanta — the Festival of Trees. The celebration started with a parade, which included some balloons from the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, then continued as a dayslong festival at the Georgia World Congress Center. I looked forward to this event every year. We would stroll through sections of beautifully decorated trees, gingerbread houses, wreaths and vignettes; decorate (and eat) huge sugar cookies; watch my sister and, later, my son make crafts and ride the carousel and the famous Pink Pig (for a few years), shop for gifts and decorations; and, of course, visit Santa. I even got to meet my baseball hero, Dale Murphy (who belongs in the Hall of Fame, but I digress), and have my picture taken with him. What a thrill! Unfortunately, the festival as we knew it ended in 2006.

For many years, my family would take a trip to Paulding County to see the Hardy Lights at the compound of the Charles Hardy family, and there were several years when I went to Marietta’s Theatre in the Square to see “Sanders Family Christmas,” a hilarious comedy that provided me with many one-liners that I still use. Those, too, are now bygone traditions.

These traditions may be gone, but we’re offering you a guide, beginning on Page 17, to all things Christmas to help you start or continue your own traditions. Find out about light displays and holiday activities, try some cookie recipes or learn how to help those in need. We also asked the experts questions about Santa and his helpers, so be sure to read what they had to say on Pages 14-16.

Merry Christmas, and happy reading!

Donna Harris

Donna Harris is the managing editor of Aroundabout Local Media. She’s a Cobb County native and a veteran journalist with newspaper and magazine experience. Email her at donna@aroundaboutmagazines.com.

Save

theDate

Planning a wedding next year? Look for the results from our Best for Bridal 2023 online poll to be posted Jan. 1 at www.aroundaboutlocalmedia.com and published in the January issue of Around Kennesaw.

What’s New

After several delays, a long-awaited restaurant finally has settled on an opening date. Whataburger made its metro Atlanta debut Nov. 28 at 705 Town Park Lane in Kennesaw. The restaurant is open for drive-thru service only but will be offering additional options, including dining room access, online ordering via the app and Whataburger.com, curbside pickup and delivery, in the coming weeks.

Welcome!

The city of Kennesaw named Brittany Jones the executive director of SmithGilbert Gardens in October.

Jones formerly worked at Filoli Historic House & Garden in California, where, as chief experience officer, she oversaw the entire Filoli experience, including interpretation, learning, retail operations, visitor services, events, facility rentals and collections. She also helped the organization receive accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums in 2021.

Originally from Miami, Jones received a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies at Florida International University and a master’s degree in nonprofit administration from the University of San Francisco.

Ribbon Cuttings

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3900 Legacy Park Blvd., Suite A-100 Kennesaw https://tlcgeorgia.com 678-824-2145

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Publisher Aroundabout Local Media, Inc. www.aroundaboutlocalmedia.com President Kim Dahnke 770-778-5314 kim@aroundaboutmagazines.com Vice President of Sales Jennifer Coleman 678-279-5502 jen@aroundaboutmagazines.com Executive Editor Candi Hannigan 770-615-3309 candi@aroundaboutmagazines.com Managing Editor Donna Harris 770-852-8481 donna@aroundaboutmagazines.com Content Editor Jessica Forrester 770-615-3318 jessica@aroundaboutmagazines.com Production Manager Michelle McCulloch 770-615-3307 michelle@aroundaboutmagazines.com Page Designer Laura Latchford laura@aroundaboutmagazines.com Graphic Designer Savannah Winn savannah@aroundaboutmagazines.com Controller Denise Griffin 770-615-3315 denise@aroundaboutmagazines.com Social Media Manager Kathryn Holt kat@aroundaboutmagazines.com Market & Advertising Specialist Michelle Smith 770-615-3324 michelle.smith@aroundaboutmagazines.com Copy Editors Bill King, Eliza Somers

Around Kennesaw, a publication of Aroundabout Local Media, Inc., is a community magazine with 17,000 free copies distributed monthly. Approximately 16,600 are direct mailed to homes and businesses and an additional 400 are placed in racks in the community.

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Volume 2, Issue 5

America’s Community Magazine