It’s a big weekend for Christmas in the city
‘Cookie Crawl,’ chili cookoff, parade are on tap
The holiday season kicks off in earnest this weekend in Clinton with events designed to put everyone into the Christmas spirit, including a chili cookoff, cookie crawl and a Christmas parade.
From 5-8 p.m. Friday (Dec. 3) at the Clinton Community Center, there will be a Christmas Chili Cookoff fundraiser that pits city of Clinton and Anderson County government employees in a contest to decide who makes the best chili.
Besides getting a bowl of chili for just $1, those attending can bowl ($2 a person plus $1.25 shoe rental), play cornhole ($2.50 per person), or compete in a shooting simulator contest ($5 a person). Hot dogs and chips also will be available.
Santa Claus will be at Community Center as well, and there will be a Christmas tree lighting ceremony.
People are asked to bring a toy or other needed items to donate to benefit the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services. (See the full list of needed items at clintontn.net/fall.)
Meanwhile, also from 5-8 p.m. Friday, the Historic Downtown Clinton Merchants Association will present its annual Cookie Crawl along Market Street.
Participating shops will be handing out free cookies to customers, and Christmas music will be playing up and down Market Street.
Santa, Mrs. Claus, The Grinch, and Elsa and Anna from “Frozen” will be walking along Market Street for photo opportunities.
Uncle Mike’s food truck will be set up at the corner of Market Street and Freddy Fagan Way, and Apple Blossom Cafe and E. Claire’s Coffee House will be open for dinner, dessert, and coffee.
“Come spend your Friday evening celebrating the magic of Christmas and supporting the brick-and-mortar shops and eateries of Downtown Clinton,” the association said.
Then, on Saturday, the Christmas parade returns.
Historic Downtown Clinton’s Christmas parade will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4.
This traditional parade of bands, floats, dancers, local artists and more returns after taking last year off because of the pandemic.
This year’s theme is “Dreaming of a White Christmas.”
Businesses, churches, schools and marching groups are participating. All funds collected from parade entries will go to Historic Downtown Clinton, a nonprofit formed as part of the Main Street program that strives to enhance and preserve Clinton’s unique small town history by making downtown the center for local businesses to thrive, new partnerships to develop, and for the community to gather.
The Anderson County Chamber has previously organized and hosted the parade, but chamber President Rick Meredith said he is excited to continue the tradition under new leadership as it falls under the vision and mission of the events that Historic Downtown Clinton aims to do to create community in theour historic district.
All parade vehicles must be “street legal” and drivers must have a valid Tennessee driver’s license (this eliminates ATVs, golf carts, mountain bikes, bicycles and skateboards, etc.).
Check-in will be at Jaycee Park/Anderson County Fairgrounds from 4–5 :30 p.m.
First-, second- and third-place prizes will be awarded for the best and most-creative floats that reflect the parade theme.