Clergy and speakers at the 2024 Interfaith Thanksgiving Service ham it up for the cameras.
The 21st annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration will take place Nov. 20 at Temple Kol Emeth in East Cobb, featuring music, messages and prayers involving more than 20 local faith communities.
This year’s theme is “Amen is Just the Beginning,” and according to organizers, it’s “a reminder that each of us needs convert our words and prayer into action.” (Here’s our report from the 2024 service.)
The service begins at 7 p.m. The doors open at 6:30 p.m., and online registration is required at this link. A clear-bag policy also will be in place. Parking is available at Temple Kol Emeth (1415 Old Canton Road) and across the street at Eastminster Presbyterian Church (3125 Sewell Mill Road).
The service is familiar to those in the past, and with many participating congregations returning, representing the Jewish, Muslim, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Baha’i, Disciples of Christ, Hindu, Episcopal, Sikh, Mormon and Unitarian Universalist faiths.
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The organizers of the Sprayberry Craft Show are cancelling this year’s event due to the ongoing reconstruction project at Sprayberry High School.
The event that first began in the 1980s is typically held in November, just as the holiday shopping season gets underway.
It’s the primary fundraiser for the Sprayberry PTSA, and draws hundreds of vendors each year and thousands of shoppers.
But a social media posting over the weekend referenced the construction project, and said the show “is being postponed until renovations at Sprayberry High School are complete.”
That could be until 2028, but the message was uncertain about when the show would return. Last year it took place at Daniell Middle School, and preliminary plans were to have it there again this year.
But the social media posting said that “with the ongoing demolition, and the high Facility Use fees now charged by Cobb County School District to host at another location, we are unable to hold the show at this time.”
Organizers said vendors have been notified of the cancellation and are in the process of being reimbursed.
East Cobb News has left messages with the Sprayberry PTSA seeking more information.
The $71.9 million Sprayberry reconstruction project is in its second academic year, and is expected to be finished by the summer of 2026.
The new main classroom building is going up where the original building once stood, with portable classrooms filling the parking lot. Numerous events that take place at Sprayberry have been affected.
That has included the Southern Invitational, a high school marching band competition, which took place last weekend and has been relocated temporarily to Kell High School.
That event is organized by Sprayberry band boosters.
In their message for the craft show, the Sprayberry PTSA said that while “while we fought hard for many years to have a new school built, and while we are proud that this vision is finally coming to life, it also means we will be without a home for the craft show during construction.”
Holiday craft shows in the East Cobb area begin Nov. 8-9 with the Lassiter Craft Fair.
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Get into the holiday spirit at our Holiday Gift Open House on Friday andSaturday, November 28 & 29 from 10 – 5, & Sunday November 30, 2025 from 12-5 at Frameworks Gallery, located in East Cobb County, Georgia, in the Woodlawn Square Shopping Center.
Join us for a festive and fun-filled event where holiday cheer meets creativity. Explore a curated collection of handmade gifts, local artwork, and seasonal treasures—perfect for everyone on your list.
Enter to Win a FREE Gift! + discounts available on grab-n-go gift items throughout the store! As a special thank-you, guests can enter our exclusive drawing for a free gift. The winner will be announced at the end of the event—no purchase necessary to enter.
Complimentary Gift Wrapping Take one more task off your holiday to-do list. All purchases made during the open house come with free, beautiful gift wrapping—because giving should be joyful and easy.
Enjoy light refreshments, festive music, and the chance to support local artists this holiday season. Whether you’re shopping for loved ones or treating yourself, our Holiday Gift Open House is the perfect way to kick off your celebrations.
Event Details: Date: Friday and Saturday, November 28th, 29th Time: 10:00am – 5:00pm, and Sunday, November 30th Time: 12:00pm – 5:00pm Location: Frameworks Gallery 1205 Johnson Ferry Rd Suite 110, Marietta, GA 30068 Admission: Free
Don’t miss this cozy community event filled with creativity, connection, and a little holiday magic.
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October has arrived, and the fall season is already in swing on our daily calendars, if not necessarily according to the weather forecast.
But Halloween events are coming soon, and a full slate of holiday festivities after that through the new year. We’re compiling what we get in our calendar listings, but if you have an event you’d like to share that we could turn into a story, we’d be glad to do that too!
Whether it’s Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah or New Year’s East Cobb News wants to be your go-to source for all the doings of all the seasons as we close out 2025, and look forward to another year of serving you in our community.
It’s what we call The Power of Local, and we’d love for you to take part!
Pass along your details/photos/videos/information to: editor@eastcobbnews.com, and please observe the following guidelines to ensure we get everything properly and can post it promptly.
Send the body of your announcement, calendar item or news release IN TEXT FORM ONLY in the text field of your e-mail template. Reformatting text from PDF, JPG and doc files takes us longer to prepare your message for publication.
We accept PDFs as an accompaniment to your item. Images are fine too, but we prefer those to be JPG files (more than jpeg and png). PLEASE DO NOT send photos inside a PDF or text or any other kind of file, but d0 send them as attachments to your email.
Of course, send us links that are relevant to your message so we can direct people to your website.
Thanks for your cooperation and we look forward to hearing from you!
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All Cobb County Government offices will be closed Friday, July 4, in honor of Independence Day. We hope everyone has a fun, relaxing and safe weekend. Go here to see the area events planned.
The National Fire Protection Association recommends skipping at-home fireworks and just attending professional shows. In its warnings about consumer use, it notes that fireworks cause thousands of injuries and fires each year.
If you do use consumer fireworks, be as safe as possible and abide by regulations. See the state law here. Ordinances and safety tips include:
Fireworks may only be used 10 a.m. – 11:59 p.m. July 3 and July 4.
Cobb County prohibits any pyrotechnics in its parks.
Read and follow label directions.
Fireworks should only be used with adult supervision.
Only use fireworks outdoors.
Ensure you have water and fire extinguishing equipment handy.
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Fireworks explode above the Marietta Square on July 4, 2024 (City of Marietta Flickr stream photo).
The City of Marietta will continue its longstanding Independence Day traditions in 2025.
The Let Freedom Ring Parade kicks off the festivities on Friday, July 4, starting at 10 a.m. The parade route begins at Roswell Street Baptist Church and continues to the Marietta Square for the 4th in the celebration, and fireworks.
Here’s the schedule, per the city website:
10:00am thru 9:00pm Festival – Arts & Crafts, Kid’s Zone, Festival Food, Free Concerts
12:00pm Concert Featuring Scott Thompson
2:00pm Bell Ringing Ceremony
2:30pm Atlanta Concert Band
7:00pm Cat Carter
8:00pm to 9:30pm Featuring: Chuck Martin and the Line Up
The fireworks will take place after dark.
There will be a number of street closures in effect for most of the day (map here), and some will be closed late Thursday, July 4.
The city also has a map detailing public parking availability at this link.
The Marietta History Center will be holding a fundraising event, “July 4th Fireworks on the Bricks,” with views of the fireworks.
Some reserved tables will be set up in front of the Kennesaw House, along the railroad tracks, with packages ranging from $200 to $300 for a table of four.
Tables and parking can be purchased through the Marietta History Center’s online store at www.MariettaHistory.org. Quantities are limited, so early reservations are encouraged.
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Pretty much every time around the New Year’s holiday, we receive a lot of questions on fireworks usage in Cobb. 911 receives a lot of calls complaining of illegal use of fireworks.
Cobb County Code bans the use of fireworks from 9 p.m. to 10 a.m. with some exceptions including these for the New Year’s holiday:
Dec. 31 (New Year’s Eve) – Fireworks may be discharged until 1 a.m.
Jan. 1 (New Year’s Day) – Fireworks may be discharged until midnight.
Fireworks and other pyrotechnics are prohibited at ALL county parks. This includes historic sites, recreational areas or state property. It is illegal to use them within 100 yards of an electric plant, water or wastewater treatment plant, gas station, refinery, electric substation, jail, helipad, hospital, nursing home or other health care facility.
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Keeping it light and fun: The Atlanta-based Gate City Brass takes a bow after performing a Christmas concert last weekend.
Well, all that’s left now is to enjoy Christmas.
All the rushing around in busy stores and weaving through East Cobb traffic is over.
I don’t know why, but I’m like many who wait until the last minute to tie up loose ends.
But what’s been a festive season is reaching its peak.
While Christians will be celebrating the birth of Jesus on Wednesday, our Jewish neighbors will begin eight days of Hanukkah as well.
It’s a time for all of us, regardless of our religious views—or whether or not we even have them—to step back and take stock of the many blessings we have in our community.
I write this, on Christmas Eve, shortly before attending a candlelight service.
This day has been difficult personally for the last few years because it’s the day my mother began her final journey after a long battle with lung cancer.
But this was always her favorite time of year, and I know she would have enjoyed the Christmas concert at the church I’ve been attending.
Last Sunday, the Atlanta-based Gate City Brass performed at St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church, which has magnificent acoustics in its sanctuary.
For several years, they’ve had a group of members organize three or four concerts a year and invited the public. They asked me to help out with publicity, but for someone who can’t carry a tune across the room, I’ve enjoyed the experience immensely.
The talent and dedication it takes to learn to play music, and do it well, has always amazed me.
The Gate City Brass members arranged many of the Christmas classics that we’re familiar with, and I recorded a couple of those tunes for you to enjoy below.
They’re a bit different than what you may be used to hearing, but these renditions certainly added more fun and enjoyment for the Christmas season for me.
We’ll be taking off Christmas Day but will be back later in the week with more holiday coverage, including a Hanukkah Menorah lighting and other festivities to bid farewell to 2024 and say hello to the new year to come.
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Carolyn Strickland lives near her older son James in the Lake Fjord community; her other son also resides in the East Cobb area. ECN photo.
Up until about a year ago, Carolyn Strickland was living the life of a near fully independent senior citizen.
That’s when her sons thought it best that she not drive any longer.
“I went anywhere I wanted to go,” says the 99-year-old mother of two, grandmother of five and great-grandmother of six.
Not long after that, she started using a walker to get around the living quarters her oldest son converted out of his garage in East Cobb’s Lake Fjord neighborhood.
“I was walking real good too,” she says, recalling outings with James Strickland Jr., at East Cobb Park, where a tree is dedicated to the memory of her 72-year marriage to her late husband.
Days away from her 100th birthday, nearly 40 friends and family members gathered at Copeland’s restaurant in Kennesaw to pay tribute to Strickland, who comes from a family with a history of nonagenarians.
On Tuesday, she will spend her 100th birthday with her sons and extended family. There’s some leftover birthday cake to enjoy, from Thursday’s party.
All of her eight sisters—she’s the baby of the family—lived at least to the age of 92. So did her mother.
Her husband, James Sr., a veteran of World War II and the Korean War and a recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross, was 94 when he died in 2017.
“I don’t know,” she said when asked what she attributes to her longevity. “Everybody asks me that.”
James Jr. thinks it’s in part due to the healthy food she cooked up for the family in Enterprise, Ala., where the Strickland family lived for 50 years.
“Turnip greens, cooked cabbage and spinach,” he says, admitting those are foods he can’t stand.
Carolyn and James Strickland Sr. when he was stationed in Hawaii after World War II. Strickland family photo.
“I’ll have to find another key to longevity,” says James, 75, a Georgia Tech graduate who sold computer systems for IBM and other technology companies.
Born Carolyn Bell Swain in Hazlehurst, Ga., on Dec. 24, 1924, she is the youngest of nine daughters.
Her father was a successful tobacco farmer in rural Jeff Davis County, but he died when she was eight.
Her mother (ironically named Mary Etta) moved the family into town for the rest of Carolyn’s childhood. After college, in the years following World War II, Carolyn followed some of her sisters to Atlanta.
It was there that she met a young Navy dive bomber, James Strickland, whose brother lived in her apartment building near what is now Pershing Point.
They married in 1946, as James was continuing a military career that included service in three branches.
Carolyn and her young sons while the family was stationed in North Carolina. Strickland family photo.
The following year, she boarded a ship in Norfolk, Va., with other military wives to visit their husbands stationed in Hawaii, traveling through the Panama Canal and then to San Francisco.
“We lived there two years; it was wonderful,” she said of her time in Hawaii. “It was so great. I was innocent and young.
“Then they gave us orders to return” stateside.
Carolyn gave birth to James and Steven while the family was stationed in North Carolina. James Sr. flew helicopters in Korea for the Army and the Marines, then was dispatched to Fort Rucker, Ala., close to the Florida panhandle, where the family relocated.
In Enterprise, James Sr. eventually became a helicopter pilot trainer. Carolyn settled in with family and community life. She helped found a Methodist church and served in lay leadership and even sang in the choir.
“Mom’s mottos are: Clean it, paint it, or throw it away, do it now, and how much is it?” James Jr. said.
Small-town life suited them well. Enterprise was like a “company” town for Fort Rucker (now named Fort Novosel). After her sons were in school, she worked as an administrative assistant to a school principal.
“We liked it and the children liked it,” she said of life there.
“Most everybody in town worked there,” James Jr. recalls. “We were all at the same economic level. You knew just everybody in town. We all knew each other.”
James Jr. stayed in metro Atlanta, and Steven soon followed, after a missionary career. He and his family reside in the Sprayberry High School area.
Carolyn, at 91, driving in the 2016 EAST COBBER parade, with her husband as a passenger, the year before he died. Strickland family photo.
In 2011, they convinced their parents to move to East Cobb. A few years earlier, James Sr. and Carolyn were enjoying their 61st anniversary dinner at the Georgian Terrace Hotel in Midtown when James Jr. persuaded the marquee manager at the Fox Theatre across the street to put their name up on the electronic sign.
They marked another anniversary by sponsoring a tree near the front parking lot at East Cobb Park, and have bricks with their names at The Strand Theatre in Marietta and Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta.
The Stricklands also observed their 70th anniversary by participating in the 2016 EAST COBBER parade. Carolyn, who was 91, drove with her husband as a passenger in their Cadillac convertible.
She still enjoys outings with her son eating out—”I have an excellent appetite,” she says—and playing bridge with several senior women, sometimes at Indian Hills Country Club.
Carolyn and James Sr. as the Fox Theatre marquee celebrates their 61st anniversary in 2007. Strickland family photo.
She regularly gets her hair and nails done, and admits that while she appreciates her sons waiting on her, “I really like to do my own thing.”
“My health is still good,” Carolyn says, elaborating on her many years. “I don’t really have an answer for it.”
A few minutes later, the phone rings. A neighbor is calling.
“This is the birthday lady. How are you?”
More company is expected soon, and she reflects yet again on the keys to having a long life.
“Good, clean living,” James Jr. says.
She says there really are no secrets at all.
“All I can tell you is I’ve had a good life. I haven’t had much of anything to worry about.”
In September, Carolyn and James. Jr. walking at East Cobb Park, where a tree behind them is dedicated to her 72-year marriage. Strickland family photo.
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Two synagogues in East Cobb will be having public Menorah lighting events to celebrate Hanukkah.
This year, Hanukkah is being observed from Dec. 25 through Jan. 2.
On Wednesday, Dec. 25, Congregation Etz Chaim will be holding a Menorah lighting event at East Cobb Park (3322 Roswell Road) starting at 5:55 p.m.
On Sunday, Dec. 29, Chabad of Cobb will be sponsoring a Menorah lighting at Avenue East Cobb (4475 Roswell Road) starting at 5:30 p.m. There will be family activities, music, treats, and the gelt drop, courtesy of the Cobb Fire Department.
Here are several other Menorah lighting celebrations around the county, as compiled by Cobb government:
Mega Chanukah Menorah Lighting event at The Battery Atlanta, 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 26 on the green. Join the Atlanta community for the Mega Chanukah Event. Enjoy Chanukah treats, fun crafts for kids, face painting, the lighting of a giant menorah, and a special guest performance for all ages to enjoy.
Light up the night with the City of Kennesaw and Chabad of Kennesaw at the Kennesaw menorah lighting ceremony on Thursday, Dec. 26, at 5 p.m. at the City Hall Plaza, 2529 J.O. Stephenson Avenue, Kennesaw.
Chanukah Giant Gelt Drop – 5:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 30 at Brawner Hall, 3180 Atlanta Road SE, Smyrna. Chocolate gelt (chocolate coins) will rain down from the sky, and there will be face paint, balloons, music, and Chanukah treats. RSVP: chabadsmyrnavinings.com/geltdrop
Acworth invites everyone to Doyal Hill Park for the annual Menorah Lighting Ceremony on Monday, Dec. 30, at 6 p.m. Rabbi Zalman Charytan from the Chabad Jewish Center will officiate the lighting with Mayor Tommy Allegood, with a reception at the Rosenwald School to follow.
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The Atlanta-based Gate City Brass performs Sunday at St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church.
The last weekend before Christmas brings to a close a number of related events in the East Cobb area.
On Friday and Saturday, Wesley Chapel UMC is having its long-standing Drive-Thru Nativity Scene from 7-9.
The birth of Christ will be played out with live actors and animals at the church (4495 Sandy Plains Road). It’s free and open to the public.
On Saturday, the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center (2051 Lower Roswell Road) will hold its annual Winter Festival from 10-5. There will be an artisanal market for last-dash holiday shopping, photos with Santa, an ugly sweater contest, music and more. Admission is free.
Christmas-themed music will be featured Sunday at a concert by the Atlanta-based Gate City Brass. They’ll be performing at 3 p.m. at St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church (571 Holt Road) as part of its Friends of Music concert series. Admission is free but donations will be accepted.
On Monday night, two days before Christmas, a Holiday Cabaret takes place starting at 7 p.m at The Art Place (3330 Sandy Plains Road). It’s organized by the Mountain View Arts Alliance, will all types of performers taking the stage. A silent auction takes place at the intermission, with 50 percent of the proceeds going to the Best Friends Animal Society.
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The holiday season is upon us, and we want to invite all of you to MVAA’s 2024 Holiday Cabaret!
Performers of all ages and types will be performing holiday pieces throughout the evening, and at intermission, attendees are encouraged to check out the silent auction out front, where 50% of the proceeds will go to the Best Friends Animal Society!
If you or someone you know would like a chance to PERFORM in this cabaret, they can sign up at the link in our bio! Registration to perform is $10 per artist.
We look forward to celebrating the holiday season with you!
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The last weekend before Christmas is expected to be chilly, but you won’t have to leave your car to take in a Nativity scene at Wesley Chapel UMC.
The birth of Christ will be played out with live actors and animals Friday and Saturday between 7-9 p.m. at the church (4495 Sandy Plains Road).
It’s free for the public to attend.
Send Us Your Holiday News!
Let East Cobb News know what your organization is doing for our community events calendar.
Pass along your details to: editor@eastcobbnews.com, and please observe the following guidelines to ensure we get everything properly and can post it promptly.
Send the body of your announcement, calendar item or news release IN TEXT FORM ONLY in the text field of your e-mail template. Reformatting text from PDF, JPG and doc files takes us longer to prepare your message for publication.
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More than 40 performing groups will be on stage, including many from local schools, along with inflatables, handmade gifts, free photos with Santa and the Piedmont Winter WonderLand display.
Hours are 5-9 Friday and 10-5 Saturday; admission and parking are free.
Another Friday-Saturday holiday extravaganza is the Pope Winter Showcase of the Arts, with showtimes at 7 p.m. each day at the Pope High School Performing Arts Center (Hembree Road), and featuring school’s orchestra, band, chorus, drama and visual arts students.
Tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for students and may be purchased at this link.
CenterStage North’s venerable presentation of “A Christmas Carol” is Thursday-Saturday at The Art Place Mountain View (3330 Sandy Plains Road). Showtimes are 8 p.m. each night; tickets are $15 and can be reserved at this link.
The Cobb Civic Center (548 S. Marietta Parkway) is the venue for the Cobb PARKS Holiday Artisan Market Friday-Sunday.
Retailers and artists will be showcasing their handmade goods, fine arts, musical performances, visits from Santa, kids crafts, and more.
Admission is free; hours are 4-8 Friday and 10-5 Saturday and Sunday.
On Saturday, Santa Claus is the star attraction at “Sweets With Santa” in a kid-oriented event at the Janice Overbeck Real Estate Team (2249 Sewell Mill Road) from 11-4. In addition to having photos with St. Nick, guests can sample tasty holiday treats and ride on a trackless train.
All the festivities are free, but you’re asked to register online at this link.
Merchants in and around the Marietta Square are organizing another Ugly Sweater Block Party from 3-10 at the Brickyard (129 Church Street).
You and your most garish holiday threads are welcome for food, drink and holiday cheer. A ticket gets free admission to more than 10 bars and restaurants, complimentary shots, live music and holiday entertainment and more.
Tickets are $15-$25 and can be purchased at this link.
The Atlanta professional choral ensemble Coro Vocatireturns to East Cobb Sunday for a Christmas concert.
The concert starts at 3 p.m. at St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church (571 Holt Road) and features Silent Night, Coventry Carol, Angels We Have Heart on High and more.
Tickets are $10-$20 and can be purchased at this link.
The Lassiter Bands Christmas Tree sale continues through Saturday at the Highland Plaza Shopping Center (3605 Sandy Plains Road, at Gordy Parkway). Frasier firs will be cut on site, and wreaths, tree stands and disposal bag also will be available.
The Fox Family holiday lights display continues nightly through Jan. 7 at 2994 Clary Lakes Drive. Set your car radio tuner to 88.3 FM for a specially curated playlist and enjoy a walk-through with craft stations and more.
Send us your holiday event news!
If your organization or entity is holding such an event that’s open to the public, please send East Cobb News your information and we’ll be glad to post it!
This can include festivals, pumpkin patches, Thanksgiving activities, holiday concerts, Christmas tree and Menorah lightings, New Year’s celebrations and fundraisers.
Pass along your details to: editor@eastcobbnews.com, and please observe the following guidelines to ensure we get everything properly and can post it promptly.
Send the body of your announcement, calendar item or news release IN TEXT FORM ONLY in the text field of your e-mail template. Reformatting text from PDF, JPG and doc files takes us longer to prepare your message for publication.
We accept PDFs as an accompaniment to your item. Images are fine too, but we prefer those to be JPG files (more than jpeg and png). PLEASE DO NOT send photos inside a PDF or text or any other kind of file. Of course, send us links that are relevant to your message so we can direct people to your website.
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
Several hundred people gathered at East Cobb Park at sunset on Sunday for the 19th Holiday Lights celebration.
Two giant trees framing the concert stage glistened with colorful lights against the darkened skies following a brief countdown.
The Dodgen Middle School Pops band performed, and Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived on their sleigh as the event culminated, having their pictures taken with children and their families.
The trees were lit by Butch Carter, owner of Honest-1 Auto Care, who is the 2024 East Cobb Citizen of the Year.
The celebration was organized by the volunteer group Friends for the East Cobb Park, with Wellstar Health Systems as the presenting sponsor.
Also sponsoring the event were the Rotary Club of East Cobb and Frameworks Gallery.
Congregation Etz Chaim will be holding a Menorah Lighting at East Cobb Park on Dec. 25, the first day of Hanukkah, starting at 5:55 p.m.
Click the middle button below to view the slideshow.
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The 17th running of the Fox Family holiday lights display in East Cobb got underway on Dec. 1, and it lasts every night through Jan. 7.
As we’ve noted previously, that continues into to the new year due to the Orthodox Christmas. The Foxes, who live in Clary Lakes, are of the Greek Orthodox faith.
The display takes place at their home, 2994 Clary Hill Court (accessible via McPherson Road, just north of Post Oak Tritt Road; see map below), each evening from 6-11 p.m.
Karen Fox told us this week that “Santa will make visits on select Friday and/or Saturday evenings beginning 12/7, weather permitting.”
You can check the display’s special Facebook page for updates on that, as well as for other information that’s subject to change during the event.
The dazzling show this year includes the following, per her note to us:
“The display has a light tunnel, many handmade animated decorations, two snowmakers and two interactive craft stations. One station is a Letter to Santa table where children can write a letter to Santa and either give it to Santa or put it in our Santa mailbox. Second is a memorial ornament station. Visitors can either bring an ornament or make an ornament to honor someone who has passed and hang it on the memorial tree. The memorial tree is in honor of my Dad who I lost to Covid in 2022 and of my younger brother who died unexpectedly earlier this year. My Dad was and is my inspiration for our display. My childhood Christmas memories of my Dad have always included his love of decorating our home, particularly the outside. I have also dedicated a special corner of our display for my Dad, affectionately referred to as Poppy, and for my brother, Tom.”
There’s also playlist of the music that visitors can listen to in their cars on 88.3FM. Here’s what you’ll hear this year:
1. Amazing Grace-Yule
2. Christmas Canon-Trans-Siberian Orchestra
3. Christmas Eve Sarajevo-Trans-Siberian Orchestra
9. Miracle on 34th Street Overture-Bruce Broughton
10. Linus and Lucy-Vince Guaraldi
11. Queen of the Winter Night-Trans-Siberian Orchestra
12. Sleigh Ride-The Ronettes
13. Wizard in Winter-Trans-Siberian Orchestra
14. Candy Cane Lane-Sia
15. Merry Christmas-Ed Sheehan & Elton John
Some of those selections also are subject to change, so check the Facebook page for updates. Fox also said that there will be several youth groups that have scheduled visits, some with caroling, and the Facebook page will have more details.
Send Us Your News!
Let East Cobb News know what your organization is doing for our community events calendar.
Pass along your details to: editor@eastcobbnews.com, and please observe the following guidelines to ensure we get everything properly and can post it promptly.
Send the body of your announcement, calendar item or news release IN TEXT FORM ONLY in the text field of your e-mail template. Reformatting text from PDF, JPG and doc files takes us longer to prepare your message for publication.
We accept PDFs as an accompaniment to your item. Images are fine too, but we prefer those to be JPG files (more than jpeg and png). PLEASE DO NOT send photos inside a PDF or text or any other kind of file. Of course, send us links that are relevant to your message so we can direct people to your website.
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
Enjoy the sounds of the holidays as The Friends of Music ministry of St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church in Marietta, Ga. hosts Christmas with Gate City Brass, on Dec. 22, 2024, at 3 p.m. The live performance is part of St. Catherine’s 2024-25 community concert series.
Gate City Brass is a professional quintet based in Atlanta, Ga. The group is led by director and trumpeter Wayne Bennett, and includes trumpeter Chris Savage, tubist Trevor Kiefer, hornist Taylor Helms and trombonist Garrett Coscolluela.
The musical program will feature traditional Christmas favorites and original arrangements by members of the ensemble.
All Friends of Music events are free to the public and donations are accepted. General seating is first-come, first-served. No tickets are necessary. All concerts are held at St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church, which is located at 571 Holt Road. For more information, email stcats@stcatherines.org or call 770-971-2839.
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East Cobb comes alive Sunday with its annual Holiday Lights celebration, from 5-8 p.m.
Holiday celebrations headline this weekend’s events calendar, and Santa sightings will be in abundance.
On Friday and Saturday is the return of the venerable Apple Annie Arts & Crafts Show at the Catholic Church of St. Ann (4905 Roswell Road).
Show hours are from 9-6 Friday and 9-2 Saturday featuring more than 100 vendors with handmade creations gift items, a cafe and bake sale, raffle items, a quilt raffle and holiday music.
Admission is $5 admission for ages 13 and up and proceeds benefit local charities; parking is free on-site and also at the Episcopal Church of St. Peter & St. Paul (1795 Johnson Ferry Road), with free shuttle service.
Starting Friday for three nights only is Mountain View Church’s longstanding Bethlehem Walk display that’s been ongoing since 1992 (2300 Jamerson Road at Trickum Road).
From 7-9 p.m. through Sunday, the public is invited to take part in an interactive recreation of the scene in Bethlehem at the birth of Christ, talking to shopkeepers, signing the census and paying taxes and enjoy hot cider and refreshments.
At the end of the display is the manger bearing the swaddling infant Jesus.
Admission is free but freewill donations will be accepted. For more questions and information e-mail: bethlehemwalk@mv-church.org.
If you want an up close and personal visit with Santa Claus, it would be hard to beat his appearance Saturday morning at East Cobb Barber Shop (1401 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 148).
From 9-11, St. Nick will be on hand to meet with kids (free entry), and if you’d like to spread some holiday cheer, you can donate to Essie’s Gift Ministries, which serves families in West Georgia who are dealing with pregnancy and infant loss.
On Sunday morning, Grace Resurrection Methodist Church (1200 Indian Hills Parkway) is inviting the public to its 11 a.m. worship service that includes a Christmas concert.
The concert will feature performances by the church’s music ministry, including the chancel choir and musicians. The concert is family-friendly, and free.
As the sun sets on Sunday, East Cobb Park will be the focal point of celebrations, as the 19th Holiday Lights event takes place.
From 5-8 p.m., holiday music will abound from the concert stage, refreshments will be available for purchase (to benefit the work of the Friends for the East Cobb Park volunteer organization) and Santa Claus will make his arrival before the tree-lighting.
Family photos with Santa also will be available.
Admission is free, but the parking lot is expected to fill up. There will be overflow parking available at Wellstar East Cobb Health Park, but you’ll have to walk to and from the park.
Ongoing through Dec. 14: The Lassiter Bands Christmas Tree sale continues daily at the Highland Plaza Shopping Center (3605 Sandy Plains Road, at Gordy Parkway). Frasier firs will be cut on site, and wreaths, tree stands and disposal bag also will be available.
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Grace Resurrection Methodist Church is thrilled to announce its upcoming Christmas Concert, “Angels Visit When We Sing!” This joyful celebration of the season will take place during worship on Sunday, December 8, 2024 at 11 a.m., in the beautifully decorated sanctuary of the church.
The concert will feature festive performances by the church’s talented music ministry, including the chancel choir and musicians, with opportunities for the congregation to join in the singing and embrace the true spirit of Christmas. The concert is family-friendly, and free.
In addition to celebrating the holiday season, this concert provides a great opportunity to meet Grace Resurrection’s new Senior Pastor, Rev. James Williams and his wife, Natalie. Known for his dynamic leadership and deep commitment to the community, Rev. Williams brings fresh vision and passion to this young East Cobb church. The congregation is excited for this new chapter under his guidance and invites everyone to be part of this special service and to get to know our new pastor.
Attendees are encouraged to dress in festive Christmas attire and come ready to worship and sing. We look forward to gathering together for this unforgettable morning of celebration.
Send us your holiday event news!
If your organization or entity is holding such an event that’s open to the public, please send East Cobb News your information and we’ll be glad to post it!
This can include festivals, pumpkin patches, Thanksgiving activities, holiday concerts, Christmas tree and Menorah lightings, New Year’s celebrations and fundraisers.
Pass along your details to: editor@eastcobbnews.com, and please observe the following guidelines to ensure we get everything properly and can post it promptly.
Send the body of your announcement, calendar item or news release IN TEXT FORM ONLY in the text field of your e-mail template. Reformatting text from PDF, JPG and doc files takes us longer to prepare your message for publication.
We accept PDFs as an accompaniment to your item. Images are fine too, but we prefer those to be JPG files (more than jpeg and png). PLEASE DO NOT send photos inside a PDF or text or any other kind of file. Of course, send us links that are relevant to your message so we can direct people to your website.
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
Get ready for a delightful start to the holiday season as the Apple Annie Arts & Crafts Show returns to St. Ann’s Catholic Church (4905 Roswell Road) on December 6 from 9 am – 6 pm and December 7 from 9 am – 2 pm, 2024. This beloved community event promises to bring an array of unique, handmade items and festive spirit to make your Christmas season bright!
Nearly 100 local artisans selling their exceptional handmade creations – find that perfect gift!
All indoors on one level across the St. Ann’s campus
$5 admission for ages 13 and up benefits local charities
Free shuttle from offsite parking (Episcopal Church of St. Peter & St. Paul at 1795 Johnson Ferry Rd, Marietta) so you don’t have to mess with the crowded parking lot
Don’t miss the Café, Bake Sale, Artisan Gift raffle, Handmade quilt raffle, and live music in a festive atmosphere
Free package check for large items
No strollers allowed
Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to support local artisans and start your holiday season with joy and creativity. For more information, follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/appleanniecraftshow.
Send us your holiday event news!
If your organization or entity is holding such an event that’s open to the public, please send East Cobb News your information and we’ll be glad to post it!
This can include festivals, pumpkin patches, Thanksgiving activities, holiday concerts, Christmas tree and Menorah lightings, New Year’s celebrations and fundraisers.
Pass along your details to: editor@eastcobbnews.com, and please observe the following guidelines to ensure we get everything properly and can post it promptly.
Send the body of your announcement, calendar item or news release IN TEXT FORM ONLY in the text field of your e-mail template. Reformatting text from PDF, JPG and doc files takes us longer to prepare your message for publication.
We accept PDFs as an accompaniment to your item. Images are fine too, but we prefer those to be JPG files (more than jpeg and png). PLEASE DO NOT send photos inside a PDF or text or any other kind of file. Of course, send us links that are relevant to your message so we can direct people to your website.
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
