A Gainesville tradition continues this weekend at the annual Christmas on Green Street.

The event will be 5-7 p.m. Sunday, and for the first time in the tour’s history, Green Street will be closed to traffic for the duration of the event

“It will be so much better and much safer for everyone that way,” said Jorene Pilcher with the Hall County Historical Society, which helps sponsor the event. The Department of Transportation has allowed Green Street to be closed for two hours.

Visitors will have the chance to stroll down Green Street, stopping in to tour homes along the way. There also will be volunteers, dressed in Victorian costumes, telling the history of each house featured.

“There will be about 20 to 25 docents this year,” Pilcher said.

Along with the docents, local high school, middle school, and elementary band and chorus students will be at the highlighted homes to perform festive music on the porches. East Hall High School students will be selling poinsettias as a fundraiser for their school.

The parade of antique cars starts at 5 p.m., starting at the Rotary tree at Academy Street, down Green Street to the Civic Center and returning back along Green Street. Organizers said there will be about 100 cars in the parade this year.

This year’s guests can expect to find a range of family activities, including a juggler, magicians and carriage rides. There also will be face painting and a miniature train ride, while the Junior Master Gardeners will be holding a marshmallow roast. A free craft activity for children is sponsored by the Quinlan Visual Arts Center.

Santa Claus will be greeting the crowds throughout the night, and at 7 p.m. the Rotary tree at Green and Academy streets will be lit.
“We’re really looking forward to it this year,” said Pilcher.