BRASELTON — Not long after packing away the Halloween decorations and finishing off the candy corn, Braselton residents began celebrating the Christmas season with the annual Christmas in Braselton festivities.

Crowds eagerly lined both sides of Ga. 53 on Saturday morning to watch Grand Marshal and Mayfield Dairy President Scottie Mayfield lead a procession of Christmas-themed floats, unique cars and fire trucks through the heart of Braselton.

Even Santa made an appearance, riding atop one of the West Jackson fire trucks following the floats and the Jackson County Comprehensive High School marching band.

The parade and subsequent events gave families a chance to get out and enjoy the cooler weather and start feeling the Christmas spirit.

Jefferson resident Christine Dalton came with her friend Sharon Ellis to Braselton Park to set up a booth with several types of homemade ornaments they make in their spare time.

"I love sharing crafts with the community and getting into the Christmas spirit," Dalton said. Dalton and Ellis, who lives in Canton, get together when they can to create different kinds of handmade crafts to sell, including small silver angels made from uncooked pasta and reindeers made from clothespins.

"We have a lot of fun making them," Ellis said. "This has been the perfect excuse to get together. It’s perfect for friends because it creates time for you to be together when you don’t live close."

Ellis also said the people she has met in Braselton were very welcoming when she and Dalton came to set up their booth with all the other booths at 7 a.m.

"I’ve been really impressed with the hospitality of the people in charge of the setup," Ellis said. "I’m not from around here, and they were very helpful and very nice."

The festivities culminated with music playing in Braselton Park and the lighting of the Braselton Christmas Tree, which lit up the area around the Braselton Antique Mall.