Christmas is just a week away, and many neighborhoods and homes in East Cobb have been lit up and adorned with home holiday decorations for a few weeks now.
We noticed a few this afternoon while out and about, and would like to invite you to show off your displays and share your holiday cheer with the community.
The photos can be indoors or outdoors, daytime or evening, and even your Christmas tree, family members, pets, bad sweaters, etc.
E-mail your photos (JPG, JPEG, PNG files are ideal), family name and neighborhood if you’d like to editor@eastcobbnews.com and we’ll include them in a compilation later in the week.
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!
A week remains before Christmas, and related holiday events in and around East Cobb will be wrapping up by the middle of next week.
At The Avenue East Cobb (4475 Roswell Road), Christmas Confetti will take place from 12-2 p.m., with a chance for kids to visit Santa Claus and his elves. It’s a free event with plenty of photo opportunities for families.
Later Sunday, the Episcopal Church of St. Peter St. Paul is having a drive-through Nativity scene Sunday from 5-8 p.m.
The scene includes live animals and a stable scene. The church is located at 1795 Johnson Ferry Road.
On Thursday, Dec. 23, the last of holiday festivities at The Avenue East Cobb will be Pet Photos with Santa at the Gussied Up Pet Boutique from 5-7 p.m. There’s no ticketing, but availability is first-come, first-served.
Also, Dec. 23 is the last day kids can get their photos taken with Santa Claus at Town Center at Cobb (400 Ernest Barrett Parkway).
Santa’s also going to hang around at The Battery Atlanta (800 Battery Avenue) during Santa’s Post Office from 12-6 Saturday through Christmas Eve at the Community Center. Kids can drop off their wish-list letters, and parents can take photos.
Life University’s traditional Lights of Life display continues nightly through New Year’s Eve. The drive-by display opens at dark and continues until 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and until 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. The cost is $10 per car and $20 for buses. 1269 Barclay Circle.
An East Cobb holiday display tradition is back for its 14th year—the Fox Family’s dazzling, musically synchronized drive-by display at 2994 Clary Hill Court. The lights go on from 6-10 p.m. through Jan. 6, and you asked to make a donation to Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church or Children’s Health Care of Atlanta.
The Cobb GIS office has compiled an interactive map of Holiday Lights in Cobb to enjoy as long as they’re up. You can also add yours.
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“Bring One for the Chipper,” Keep Cobb Beautiful’s effort to encourage Christmas tree recycling, will be held from Christmas Day, Dec. 25, through Jan. 8, 2022.
They include Home Depot stores in East Cobb at Providence Square (4101 Roswell Road) and Highland Plaza (3605 Sandy Plains Road).
Trees also can be dropped off at Fullers Park (3499 Robinson Road).
A few instructions apply: Please remove all decorations, mesh, lights, stands and strings from trees. Flocked trees will not be permitted, as they are considered hazards to wildlife.
There’s no limit to the number of trees that may be dropped off; discarded trees are turned into mulch for various local public beautification projects and individual yards.
Volunteers also are needed to help on the final day, Jan. 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to collect trees from the dropoff spots. Groups and individuals should contact keepcobbbeautiful@cobbcounty.org to help out.
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Let East Cobb News know what events and activities your organization is having for the public in the community for the holidays.
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.
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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!
Let East Cobb News know what events and activities your organization is having for the public in the community for the holidays.
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.
Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!
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!
The first full weekend of the Christmas and Hanukkah seasons feels almost back to normal.
In the East Cobb area, many of the events that were cancelled or modified in 2020 are returning, almost like they were before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Among them is Holiday Lights at East Cobb Park, which will feature a tribute to Johnny Johnson, the late East Cobb jewelry store owner and civic leader who served for many years as Santa Claus at that event.
Holiday Lights went virtual last year, but the public is welcome on Sunday, starting at 5 p.m., with music, refreshments and the tree lighting at the back of the park (3322 Roswell Road) near the concert stage.
Two cancelled events that have long been East Cobb traditions are back as they were: the 40th annual Apple Annie Arts & Craft Show at the Catholic Church of St. Ann (4905 Roswell Road) on Saturday and Sunday; and the Johnson Ferry Christmas Party on Saturday. More details about both from our post earlier this week.
The longstanding Bethlehem Walk at Mountain View United Methodist Church (2300 Jamerson Road) went virtual last year, but is resuming its interactive Nativity re-enactment Saturday and Sunday (7-9 p.m.) for in-person visitors.
A full slate of holiday events at The Avenue East Cobb began with a Menorah lighting Monday, and this weekend includes Santa events and this Friday and next, caroling with the Dickerson Middle School chorus. Here’s our previous post on all that’s going on for the rest of the holidays.
Also starting on Friday, and continuing through Jan. 6, is one of East Cobb’s most dazzling neighborhood holiday lights displays, at the Fox residence (2994 Clary Hill Court), in the Clary Lakes subdivision. They’ve coordinated thousands of moving parts into a musically-coordinated show that you can listen to on your car radio as you drive by. The display can be seen daily from 6-10 p.m.
After being held as a self-guided tour last year, the Marietta Pilgrimage Tour returns for viewings on Saturday (9-8) and Sunday (10-5) of five homes in the Kennesaw Avenue Historic District:
The Cox-Brown-Parker House, 109 Maple Avenue
Magnolia Cottage, 103 Maple Avenue
Northcutt-James-Ferrer House, 97 Maple Avenue
Gentry House, 76 Maple Avenue
Mayes-Crissey-Clements House, 140 Stewart Avenue.
The tour is organized by the Marietta Welcome Center and Cobb Landmarks & Historical Society; tickets are $25 in advance (and can be purchased at the tour website by clicking the above link) and $30 on the day of the tour. Advance tickets can be picked up at the Marietta Welcome Center (4 Depot St.) or William Root House (80 N. Marietta Parkway) through Sunday. They won’t be available at the homes.
Guests and volunteers must wear masks while visiting the tour homes and while riding the tour shuttle bus. Masks will be provided for those who do not have them. The Pilgrimage gala has been cancelled for 2021.
Let East Cobb News know what events and activities your organization is having for the public in the community for the holidays.
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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We’ve posted about this over the last few years and are happy to share this extraordinary Christmas holiday lights display again:
The Fox family of East Cobb is once again having its animated display featuring thousands of lights and that are synchronized to music.
The display starts on Friday and continues daily from 6-10 p.m. through Jan. 6, and is open to the public for drive-by viewing and listening of Christmas favorites (88.3FM). We’ve included a video clip from a previous year to give you an idea at the bottom of this post.
The address is 2994 Clary Hill Court, Roswell, in the Clary Lakes subdivision, and is accessible via McPherson Road, just north of Post Oak Tritt Road.
Here’s this year’s playlist:
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. Jingle Bells-Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Karen Fox said the display is similar to previous years, and includes not one, but two snow machines, leaping arches, an animated skating pond and a frozen display.
This is the 14th year of the display, and Fox said the family is once again asking for donations to be made to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church.
The display also is entered in the Cobb EMC light contest, and you can vote by clicking here.
Updates for the display, including a special visit from Santa Claus, will be provided on its Facebook page.
Let East Cobb News know what events and activities your organization is having for the public in the community for the holidays.
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.
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The Apple Annie Arts & Crafts Show is marking its 40th year at the Catholic Church of St. Ann.
As we’ve been noting in recent weeks, many of the holiday events that were cancelled or limited to virtual participation in 2020 are reverting to in-person formats this year, including one of East Cobb’s longest-standing Christmas festivities.
The Apple Annie Arts & Crafts Show is marking its 40th anniversary this weekend at the Catholic Church of St. Ann (4905 Roswell Road).
The show takes place Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a $5 admission charge per person that’s good for both days.
The proceeds benefit local charities at the direction of the St. Ann Council of Catholic Women, and since the show began in 1981, more than $500,000 has been donated.
As usual, there will be more than 100 exhibitors selling handmade items, along with a cafe serving drinks and snacks, a bake sale and raffles, including and heirloom quilt at the end of the show.
Because of an ongoing construction project, there’s limited parking at the church, but there will be free shuttle service available at Episcopal Church of St. Peter and St. Paul (1795 Johnson Ferry Road).
Johnson Ferry Baptist Church (955 Johnson Ferry Road) is resuming much of its Christmas scheduling, starting on Saturday with its annual Johnson Ferry Christmas Party for families and children. That’s taking place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and includes more than 20 venues featuring horse carriage rides, a food truck, live music, crafts, a snow slide and more.
Next weekend is the Johnson Ferry Christmas Festival, featuring the church’s choir and orchestra in three worship services with Christmas music favorites and the story of Jesus’ birth.
The services are Saturday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 4 and 7 p.m.
All of the Johnson Ferry events are free and open to the public. For more, click here.
As noted earlier, Sunday is the return of Holiday Lights at East Cobb Park; and The Avenue East Cobb is having several holiday events, starting Tuesday with a Menorah lighting as the Jewish faith begins weeklong Hanukkah festivities.
We’re continuing to post news about holiday events as we get them, and as their dates draw near, so please let us know what you’ve got going on that’s open to the public. See the paragraphs below for submitting your information.
Send Us Your Holiday News!
Let East Cobb News know what events and activities your organization is having for the public in the community for the holidays.
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.
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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!
One of East Cobb’s continuing holiday traditions is the Christmas tree sale conducted by the Lassiter High School Bands program.
The sale got underway on Black Friday and continues through Dec. 11 at its usual location, Highland Plaza Shopping Center.
More information below, followed by details on how you can share your holiday news and events with the community.
Send Us Your Holiday News!
Let East Cobb News know what events and activities your organization is having for the public in the community for the holidays.
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.
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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!
A full state of holiday related events at The Avenue of East Cobb begins on Monday.
A Menorah Lighting takes place Tuesday, Nov. 30, from 5:30–6:30 p.m. near the Kale Me Crazy store. The event is being conducted in partnership with Chabad of Cobb, and will Chanukah treats. The first 50 children to arrive will receive a special gift from Chabad of Cobb. The Cobb County Fire Department will also participate in the event, hosting a Gelt Drop from the fire truck’s lift.
On Fridays from Dec. 3-18 Santa’s Avenue Express will take place from 2-6 p.m., featuring sleigh rides and the Avenue Express Train. Tickets for the latter are $15 for family of four and include a 10-minute train ride, a one-on-one visit with Santa, and hot chocolate provided by Smallcakes. Guests can bring cameras for personal photos, and five reservations for the rides will be taken for each hour.
On Dec. 2 and 16, it’s Storytime with Santa, a special book reading from 5-6 p.m. at Pottery Barn and High Country Outfitters. Tickets are $12 per child that includes one adult chaperone, and attendees will get wish lists and holiday coloring sheets.
On two Fridays, Dec. 3 and 10, Caroling at Avenue East Cobb will feature members of the Dickerson Middle School choral teams. The singing, which includes classic winter, holiday, Christmas and Chanukah favorites, takes place from 5:45 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.
On Thursday, Dec. 9, Santa’s Kitchen will take place at the Olea Oliva store from 5-7 p.m., and includes a build-your-own-cookie-jar class. Attendees will get wish lists and holiday coloring sheets, and Santa will conduct a book reading. Tickets are $25 per child, with one adult chaperone).
On Thursday, Dec. 23, it’s Pet Photos with Santa at the Gussied Up Pet Boutique from 5-7 p.m. There’s no ticketing, but availability is first-come, first-served.
For more about holiday events at The Avenue, click here.
Let East Cobb News know what events and activities your organization is having for the public in the community for the holidays.
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.
Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!
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!
After going virtual in 2020 due to COVID-19, the Friends for the East Cobb Park has announced that its annual Holiday Lights event will be open to the public this year.
The free festivities take place on Sunday, Dec. 5, starting at 5 p.m.
In addition to seasonal music, outdoor activities and the tree lighting, there will be a visit from Santa Claus, aka “Santa Steve.”
There also will a tribute to the late Johnny Johnson, a longtime East Cobb business owner and civic and community leader who served as the official Santa Claus of Holiday Lights.
More details will be updated on the Friends for the East Cobb Park Facebook page.
Many of the events that were also cancelled in 2020 are returning this year, sometimes in a modified format.
The Mountain View Arts Alliance is having its Empty Bowl Brunch on Dec. 12 after having an Empty Bowl Gift Bag sale last year. That’s a Sunday, and it’s taking place at The Art Place (3330 Sandy Plains Road) from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., with proceeds benefitting MUST Ministries.
We’ll be posting more holiday event information as we get it, and as the event dates approach.
If you have news to share with the public about your holiday event, please follow the instructions below and East Cobb News will be glad to post it.
Send Us Your Holiday News!
Let East Cobb News know what events and activities your organization is having for the public in the community for the holidays.
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.
Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!
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!
Before beginning Independence Day weekend festivities, Cobb Fire and Emergency Services is asking that you practice some common-sense safety tips regarding fireworks.
The agency held a press conference and safety demonstration earlier this week, and DO watch to the end of the nearly 10-minute video below to see what can happen if you don’t take the simplest of precautions.
At the press conference, Cobb Fire officials said there was a related incident that occurred in the county over the weekend. Although they declined to go into too many details, they said the incident included injuries to lower limbs.
The leading fireworks safety statistic, according to the National Fire Professionals Association, is children handling sparklers.
You’re even being advised NOT to use a hand sanitizer before handling fireworks, because that can also produce a dangerous situation.
But the general message is even more adamant—if you’re not a pro at handling fireworks, leave that to the professionals.
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!
After COVID-19 measures cancelled July 4 holiday events in many communities in 2020, most of those places in Cobb and metro Atlanta have scheduled festivities this year in line with years past.
The City of Marietta will hold its Let Freedom Ring Parade and other Independence Day events next Saturday, July 3, on the Marietta Square.
Here’s the schedule:
10 a.m.: Let Freedom Ring Parade
10 a.m.-9 p.m.: Festival with arts and crafts, Kid’s Zone, food, free concerts
Noon: Concert featuring Scott Thompson
2 p.m.: Bell ringing ceremony
2:30 p.m.: Concert featuring Atlanta Concert Band
7 p.m.: Concert featuring Scott Thompson
8-9:30 p.m.: Concert featuring Bogey and the Viceroy
Dark: Fireworks show
Here’s what the city is advising on getting around and about:
“Roads on the parade route will be closed 40 minutes before and during the parade. Roads surrounding the Marietta Square will be closed all day. Parking will be challenging, so please consider using a ride sharing service to drop you off and pick you up. The intersection of Lawrence Street and Waddell Street is the designated convenient drop off/pick up location.”
For more information, visit the City of Marietta website or call the Marietta Parks and Recreation Department at 770-794-5601.
Cobb Landmarks is having a viewing party for the fireworks at its William Root Museum in downtown Marietta (80 N. Marietta Parkway), with tables priced from $250 (for 4 people) to $1,000 (for 8 people and a parking spot).
The proceeds benefit the non-profit’s historic preservation efforts.
Attendees can bring their own table decor, beverages, and food (or order from Carriage House Catering) and Cobb Landmarks will provide the table and chairs. A prize will be awarded to the table with the best decorations. Guests will have access to the restroom in the Root House Visitor Center during the event.
For information and to reserve a table, click here.
Travel Cobb has rounded up other July 4 weekend events in the county, including the Atlanta Braves celebration coinciding with a homestand against the Miami Marlins.
The City of Roswell is having its annual fireworks extravaganza on Sunday, July 4, with festivities starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Roswell Area Park (10495 Woodstock Road). There will be live music, entertainment, and food trucks. Attendees can bring chairs and blankets one of various viewing areas throughout the park. Fireworks will start at sunset.
For more information, including a map of the events, click here.
In Sandy Springs, the Stars & Stripes Fireworks Celebration returns, but in a first-time location: The City Springs municipal facility (1 Galambos Way). Music begins at 7:30 p.m., and the fireworks start up at 9:30 p.m.
For more information, including an event map and parking details, click here.
Did we miss anything? Do you know of a public July 4 event to share with the community? Let us know and we’ll add it here. E-mail: editor@eastcobbnews.com.
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New Year’s Eve Bash American Legion 294 Lounge 3282 Florence Road, Powder Springs Come celebrate NYE with us at American Legion post 294.. Starts at 7pm. Event day tickets are $30/$40 and include party favors, champagne toast, and midnight Brunch. Karaoke 8pm -10pm; DJ 10pm – close
Thank God It’s Over NYE at Red Top Brewhouse 4637 S. Main St., Acworth Let’s shake 2020 out of our hair together. We’re closing to the public and having ourselves a ticketed event. $75 gets you dinner from a menu curated by Chef Bobby, a live performance from local singer/songwriter and 2020 American Idol contestant, Erin Kirby and her band. Then we’ll celebrate the end of it all with a complimentary champagne toast. Click to get your tickets! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/131920801669
New Year’s Eve 2021 The Battery Atlanta 825 Battery Ave. We usually hate goodbyes but not with 2020. Don’t miss Atlanta’s best New Year’s Eve celebration! This year we’re celebrating the New Year 2020 style; offering a safe & socially distanced environment. Limited capacity. So grab your tickets now! MASQUERADE themed event with entertainment Balloon Drop Midnight champagne toast & Ball Drop on our 32-ft LED screen! All packages grant you access to all venues inside Live! At the Battery Atlanta: Sports & Social, PBR Atlanta, Tavern and Coors Banquet Bar. For tickets click here.
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!
The holiday season may be coming to a close, but the giving continues in an effort to end 2020 in a positive way! On Thursday, December 31 (New Year’s Eve), Christmas Confetti, a premier seasonal Christmas décor store located in the Avenue at East Cobb Shopping Center will host its inaugural “BIG GIVE” by donating all remaining inventory to families who could not afford a Christmas tree, holiday lights, ornaments and other holiday décor.
In partnership with Families First, 75 families will have an opportunity to select $250 worth of Christmas decoration for next year. This “BIG GIVE” comes during a time when so many families are challenged with job loss, furloughs and other financial setbacks. “As a member of the Board of Directors at Families First, I get to see first-hand the various needs of our community and particularly those of adoptive and foster care youth and families, says Leonard Jennings, owner of Christmas Confetti. In partnership with Families First, “BIG GIVE” will ensure that deserving families will receive Christmas trees, ornaments, and home decorations this year giving them an opportunity to enjoy Christmases in the years to come.”
Families will arrive early and in great anticipation of a shopping spree that will continue the holiday cheer. Several Atlanta influencers have been invited to add to the spirit of giving. The event will continue until everything is gone!
Christmas Confetti is located in the Avenue East at East Cobb shopping complex in Marietta near Johnson Ferry and Roswell Road. The seasonal Christmas décor store was created to give people who love the Christmas season, a cheerful and unique shopping experience. It is the home of the upside down Christmas tree.
Families First is one of Georgia’s largest family and children’s services organization in metropolitan Atlanta. The organization works to improve outcomes for children, youth, individuals and families at every stage of life by providing them with mental health support, coaching, early education and intervention techniques that strengthen families, as well as build resiliency, no matter what challenges they may be facing.
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Keep Cobb Beautiful’s annual “Bring One for the Chipper” Christmas tree recycling event started on Christmas day and continues through Jan. 9.
You can bring your tree to several Home Depot locations—including two in East Cobb, and at two Cobb County Parks, one of which is Fullers Park.
Here’s more from Keep Cobb Beautiful about the recycling event and its flyer with details on when and where to drop off your tree:
Flocked trees will not be accepted as they are harmful to wildlife. Trees must have all decorations, mesh, lights, stands and strings removed prior to drop off. Free mulch is available upon request and free saplings will be available, while supplies last, at participating locations 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 9.
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!
“Every day is a gift of Christ’s presence,” said Father Joseph Aquino of the Catholic Church of St. Ann.
Christians in East Cobb gathered in-person and online Thursday for Christmas Eve services hearing a familiar topic in a new light.
Celebrations of the birth of Jesus Christ were conducted in different formats by many congregations in the community.
Some had limited worship in-person due to COVID-19 social-distancing protocols, with attendees wearing masks, saying “the peace” without touching and limiting music to designated vocalists and instrumentalists.
A few services were done outdoors under protective coverings on a cold and rainy day. Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church decided on Wednesday to hold its Christmas Eve services online-only after an emergency meeting of its COVID-19 task force.
At a Thursday afternoon Mass at the Catholic Church of St. Ann, senior pastor Father Joseph Aquino delivered a message of hope that is the essence of the arrival of Christ.
“Tonight we celebrate the final fruit of that hope,” Aquino said.
While he didn’t reference current circumstances, Aquino said that even through “all kinds of pain, all kinds of ailments and illnesses . . . there is hope.”
The message was similar at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, which held its Christmas Eve in a virtual-only format.
The service included music from socially-distanced choir members and bell ringers. Rev. Harden Hopper said in his sermon that “God wants to leave no one lost in the dark and that one day he will lead us into his light.
“For some, this season is the hardest of all. But take heart because there is refuge in the Wonderful Counselor, Our Savior.”
Johnson Ferry Baptist Church offered in-person services, and also produced a virtual candlelight service (video below).
Rev. Clay Smith said that “2020 has been a dark year for many,” referencing COVID-19, death and loss, political strife, racial protests and economic devastation.
“It’s exposed the reality that a lot of us are still scared of the dark,” Smith said. “We need the light, and that light is what Christmas is all about. Christmas is God’s light breaking into a dark world.”
Another large East Cobb church scrapped plans for in-person services on Wednesday. The COVID-19 task force at Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church decided to conduct all services in virtual format.
On its Facebook page the church has been showing a prerecorded service, and on Christmas Day will be airing a “marathon” of previous caroling performances and other special programming.
Rev. Ricky Ray said the decision was based on the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the community.
“This has been an extremely difficult season and an extremely difficult decision to make,” he said in a video message. “I hope that you’ll be safe and have a very Merry Christmas.”
St. Catherine’s Episcopal Church, which has had limited in-person services outdoors since the late fall, led a late-afternoon candlelight service under an awning at its entrance, with attendees and clergy bundled up.
A later outdoor service on Christmas Eve and another in-person service on Christmas morning were cancelled for weather reasons.
St. Catherine’s designated three local charities to receive its Christmas Eve offering proceeds: Cobb Communities in Schools, Family Promise of Cobb County and Simple Needs GA.
Some churches are having online and in-person services on Christmas Day. For details, visit the East Cobb NewsChristmas schedule page.
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!
Every year we update out Christmas Worship Schedule page with a summary of services at selected East Cobb churches, plus links for more information.
Due to very different circumstances this year, we’re obviously changing the format, but not all that much.
What you’ll find on that link is information about virtual services—most of them on Christmas Eve—and links to other details and livestream access.
Most churches have been requiring reservations for in-person worship, and a good number of those we checked are at full capacity. We’re linking to the main church website and other appropriate links for you to check if you’re interested in attending in person.
On Christmas Day we’ll round up some of the special messages, music and other programming that East Cobb churches have put together. Some of them have been posting beforehand, such as the Sing-Along at the Catholic Church of St. Ann below.
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!
Georgia Credit Union employees Jessica Namynanik and Heather Bulloch.
Submitted information and photos:
Credit Union of Georgia helped kick-off the Salvation Army’s Bellringing season during the 2020 Red Kettle Kick Off at the Salvation Army location on Waterman Street. Although things look a little different this year it did not stop the excitement for another season of bellringing with a new donation option! Credit Union of Georgia has proudly supported the Salvation Army throughout the years and is excited to continue to get more involved by having their own kettle this year. Credit Union of Georgia was proud to present a check of $1,250 to support the cause. Additionally, Credit Union of Georgia employees volunteered to ring the bell for their very own sponsored kettle at Kroger on Cherokee Street this month. Due to the ongoing economic impacts of COVID-19, the need of thousands of local families is even greater this holiday season. The Salvation Army of Metro Atlanta is expecting a 155% increase in requests for assistance this holiday season. Because of this, the Virtual Red Kettle has been created so everyone has the ability to rally around our community. Credit Union of Georgia not only donates each year, but fundraises throughout the year for The Salvation Army as well as other local nonprofits. Vice President of Information Technology, Tom McNutt is currently serving on the Board of Directors for The Salvation Army Marietta Corps. Employees at the Credit Union are excited to not only continue fundraising for charities within the branches, but also volunteer to be a bellringer for The Salvation Army. “Growing up I loved being able to drop my coins in the red kettles during the holiday season- it felt so good to give back! I’m proud to be a part of an organization that values giving back to the community and allows me to volunteer,” said Kathy Winiarczyk, Business Development Representative. Make sure to stop by the red kettles within the community this season – swipe your card or drop coins and bills into the kettle to donate. Donations collected directly impact more than 57,000 people in metro Atlanta each year through homeless services, youth enrichment and anti-trafficking programs. Credit Union of Georgia works hard throughout the year fundraising for local charities. To learn more how you can give back to your community with Credit Union of Georgia follow along on social media and www.CUofGA.org for their latest fundraising efforts.
Georgia Credit Union Tom McNutt accepts a donation from a girl.
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While restaurants have been hit hard by pandemic-related closings, two in East Cobb have teamed up to help those in need with their holiday meals.
Paradise Grille (3605 Sandy Plains Road) and Lucia’s Italian Restaurant (4705 Woodstock Road) have organized what they’re calling “feed a family” food trees at both restaurants, with the proceeds benefitting those served by MUST Ministries.
Here’s MUST explaining how the process works:
“Each tree is covered with $50 gift certificates that will pay for a family meal for 6. Every Family Meal gift card will be delivered to MUST Ministries before Christmas Day to distribute among our families.”
So when you purchase a gift certificate, the restaurants will then put together the meals as indicated in the flyers above. In addition to helping needy families enjoy a Christmas dinner, you’ll also be helping the restaurants.
Here’s more from the restaurants:
Purchase a gift certificate and we will display your family name, on your star, on the walls beside our trees.
Let’s fill our walls with Stars and help Must take care of less fortunate friends this holiday season
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!
