Photo by DAVID BARNES
White County’s elf,
Leigh Vinson
Victorian Christmas in Nacoochee When: 5:30-6:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays Nov. 24-Dec. 16 Where: Hardman Farm State Historic Site 143, Ga. 17, Sautee Nacoochee More info: 706-878-1077 or www.gastateparks.org/hardmanfarm
What makes Christmas so special in your town? There is a long Christmas tradition that our Victorian parade has, so we try to bring along the Appalachian Victorian Christmas traditions. We decorate with all five greeneries and we talk about all Victorian Christmas traditions from the past. This event is a family-oriented experience that allows not only adults but kids as well to see a time before people gave extravagant gifts and Christmas was more about being with family and the community. In this event, everyone comes together to enjoy one another’s company but not just people from the town but also everyone around us. What do you love about Christmas? I love Christmas because I get to go home, I get to see my family, I get to see people I haven’t seen in a long time, and I just have time to catch up with family and go to church with them. How are you feeling and what are you doing the night 16 | HOME | November 2017
before the big event? We will be getting ready, prepping the house and getting our costumes ready. We have volunteers and employees that rotate and take turns on who’s responsible on making sure everything goes well. Every night is different, which is fun because we’ll have different guides every night, we’ll have different people dress up and different music every nights. It’s a different treat and a different experience every night. What are you doing on Christmas Day? I’ll be home with my family opening presents and having lunch with my family. We will go to church on Christmas Eve and afterward have a little dinner. Why did you take on the responsibility of putting together this Christmas event? Well it’s part of my job title and I think everybody loves Christmas so it was a nobrainer to do a Christmas event. This is my second year doing it, but it’s been going on for three years.