East Cobb’s Fox Family holiday lights display marks 15th year

East Cobb home holiday lights map

We’ve received some inquiries from readers about one of East Cobb’s standout holiday lights displays—put on by the Fox family in the Clary Lakes subdivision.

We checked with Karen Fox about this year’s presentation, which is underway and is available nightly from 6-11 p.m. at their home at 2994 Clary Hill Court (accessible via McPherson Road, just north of Post Oak Tritt Road; see map below).

She said that Santa will visit on select days so check with the Facebook page for details.

Much of what has been featured before is back again—an animated display featuring thousands of lights and  synchronized to music that you can hear on 88.3FM. Here’s this year’s playlist:

1. Amazing Grace-Yule
2. Christmas Canon-Trans-Siberian Orchestra
3. Christmas Eve Sarajevo-Trans-Siberian Orchestra
4. Deck the Halls-Mannheim Steamroller
5. Let It Snow-Dean Martin
6. Light of Christmas-Owl City
7. Little Drummer Boy-King and Country
8. Mad Russian Christmas – 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

This is the 15th year for the display, and new this year is a light tunnel walk-through feature with two interactive stations. They include a Letter to Santa table where children can write a letter to Santa and either give it to Santa or put it in a special Santa mailbox.

There’s also a memorial ornament station in honor of Karen Fox’s father, who died this year to COVID-19 at the age of 95.

“My childhood Christmas memories of my Dad have always included his love of decorating our home,” she said. “I have dedicated a special corner of our display for my Dad, affectionately referred to as Poppy, which includes a memorial tree. Visitors can either bring an ornament or make an ornament to honor someone who has passed and hang it on the memorial tree.”

Some youth groups will be having their own outings at the display, including the school from her church, Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox, whose choir will be singing Greek Christmas carols on Dec. 14. That event will be broadcast on television in Greece.

As in previous years, the Fox display is among the candidates in the Cobb EMC holiday lights contest. In order to participate, you can LIKE the photo of your favorite display and submit it by clicking here.

Voting is open through Christmas Day and the top three homes will receive $500 to give to a non-profit of their choice.

Fox Family Christmas Light Display

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PHOTOS, VIDEOS: 2022 Holiday Lights go on at East Cobb Park

2022 East Cobb Park Holiday Lights

The weather was a little chilly but not too frightful for several hundred people who turned out at East Cobb Park Sunday night for Holiday Lights.

The annual tree lighting—there were two in fact, on either side of the concert shell—was conducted by Judy Boyce, the 2022 co-recipient of the East Cobb Citizen of the Year Award (with her husband, the late Cobb Commission Chairman Mike Boyce).

The Cobb Parks and Recreation Department and the Friends for the East Cobb Park, an all-volunteer organization that supports park events and activities, organized the celebration, with support from Wellstar Health System and the Rotary Club of East Cobb.

The Dodgen Middle School Pops band perfomed, and refreshments were available from Alumni Cookie Dough.

After the tree lighting, Santa and Mrs. Claus made their way to the back of the park, and then greeted children on the concert stage to hear their gift wishes.

There’s another holiday celebration at East Cobb Park, a community Menorah Lighting on Dec. 18 starting at 5:30 to mark the begnning of eight days of Hanukkah. That event is being organized by the Congregation Etz Chaim.

The Friends for the East Cobb Park has begun a membership drive to generate more volunteer and financial support for activities at the park. President Kurt von Borries said the drive will be ongoing and the organization is seeking community members to take part.

Among the objectives is to raise funds to purchase more the Tritt property next to the park, and for regular progamming activities. For information, click here.

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PHOTOS: Johnson Ferry Christmas Party celebrates the season

Johnson Ferry Christmas Party

The halls of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church were bursting with people of all ages on Saturday, and especially children and their parents, at the church’s Annual Christmas Party.

Live music, “the Christmas Experience” storytelling, a petting zoo, bouncy games, crafts and the more were featured on a busy weekend for holiday events in East Cobb.

On Sunday, Holiday Lights at East Cobb Park gets underway, and the Bethlehem Walk exhibit continues at Mountain View UMC.

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Stuff-A-Bus to roll out Dec. 13-15 for the Cobb Christmas program

Cobb Stuff A Bus 2022
For a larger view, click here.

The annual Stuff-A-Bus program will be rolling out throughout Cobb County in mid-December to collect holiday gifts for needy children.

The Cobb Christmas program includes various community partners in conducting the drive, which takes place from Dec. 13-15.

Citizens are asked to bring unwrapped toys for children ages 3-13 at the locations, dates and times indicated on the flyer.

The Cobb Linc bus will be collecting the toys to be distributed to around 1,000 children. Start shopping now and drop off your toy donations at any businesses listed on the flyer.

The two East Cobb stops on the schedule take place on Tuesday, Dec. 13.

The bus will stop at the Northeast Cobb YMCA (3010 Johnson Ferry Road) from 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and at the Wellstar East Cobb Health Park (3747 Roswell Road) from 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

For more information on the Stuff-A-Bus program, click here.

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East Cobb Weekend Events: Holiday Lights; Apple Annie; Christmas Party; more

Holiday Lights at East Cobb Park

The first full weekend of Christmas events may be the busiest of all in the 2022 holiday season in East Cobb.

There are three full days—and nights—of festivities, starting bright and early on Friday morning.

That’s when the Apple Annie Arts and Crafts Show starts at the Catholic Church of St. Ann (4905 Roswell Road), and all on one floor in the church’s expansive new parish hall.

More than 100 artisanal vendors will be selling their wares, and there will be food and other refreshments. Hours are 9-6 Friday and 9-2 Saturday, and overflow parking and shuttle service will be provided at the Episcopal Church of St. Peter and St. Paul (1795 Johnson Ferry Road).

The choruses from Dickerson Middle School are featured Friday from 6-7:30 p.m. in Caroling at The Avenue East Cobb (4475 Roswell Road), one of the retail center’s many holiday events.

Saturday afternoon includes more family holiday celebrations and entertainment.

From 12-2 p.m., it’s the Johnson Ferry Christmas Party (955 Johnson Ferry Road), a festival with more than 20 venues including inflatables, trains, food, live music, crafts and more. The host is Johnson Ferry Baptist Church, an East Cobb News sponsor.

Music-lovers will enjoy the Cobb New Horizons Christmas Concert from 2-4 p.m. at the Lassiter High School Concert Hall (2601 Shallowford Road). It’s free, and the musicians are seniors with musical experience.

This year is the 30th anniversary of the Bethlehem Walk at Mountain View United Methodist Church (2300 Jamerson Road), and the interactive display of Jesus’ birth takes place from Saturday-Monday from 7-9:30 p.m. each night.

After walking through the streets of Bethlehem, attendees can enjoy refreshments, including hot cider. The event is free but donations are accepted.

At the very end of the weekend, and as the sun goes down, Holiday Lights will be going on at East Cobb Park (3322 Roswell Road).

Live music including Dodgen Pops and a visit from Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus will be featured at the event sponsored by the Friends for the East Cobb Park, which will be selling hot chocolate and cookies.

You can find all of our calendar listings in one handy place on our site. If you have events to share with the public, please e-mail: calendar@eastcobbnews.com and we will post them here.

 

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Sewell Mill Library, The Art Place to hold holiday markets

Cobb Parks holiday market sale

The Cobb Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department once again will be holding its 12 Days of Christmas Holiday Markets at four county arts centers starting Wednesday.

Two of them are in East Cobb, at the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center (2051 Lower Roswell Road) and The Art Place (3330 Sandy Plains Road).

The markets feature handmade items sold by local artists that are ideal for the holiday season.

The markets are open Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from 12-6 p.m. through Dec. 11.

The other markets are at the Mable House (5239 Floyd Road, Austell) and The Art Station (2050 Kennesaw Due West Road, Kennesaw).

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Lassiter Band Christmas tree sale underway through Dec. 10

Lassiter Band Christmas tree sale

The Lassiter Bands annual Christmas Tree sale fundraiser began on Friday, and it will continue every day through Dec. 10 at its usual location, the Highland Plaza Shopping Center (3605 Sandy Plains Road).

The hours are listed on the flyer below; in addition to trees wreaths also are on sale. All proceeds benefit the Lassiter High School bands program.

Prices start at $65 for 6-inch trees and go up to $265 for a 10-foot tree. They’re locally sourced Frazier firs, as are the bough wreaths. There’s also on-site cutting services and tree stands.

The sale takes place in the parking lot fronting Sandy Plains Road at the intersection of Gordy Parkway.

 

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Sprayberry Craft Show to mark 40th anniversary in 2022

Sprayberry Craft Show 40th anniversary

The Sprayberry PTSA began a craft show in 1982 in the parking lot of Sprayberry High School.

When the doors open next Saturday to its 40th anniversary, vendors will be spread throughout the school campus.

The show, which is the organization’s only fundraiser of the year, has grown to more than 200 vendors from around the Southeast.

The proceeds benefit a number of school activities and programs, including grants for teachers and financial assistance for students taking standardized tests.

Like many of the other craft shows in the area, the Sprayberry show includes baked goods, concession stands and other food service for shoppers who often make a day out of choosing their holiday gift and other purchases.

The show will take place Saturday, Nov. 19 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

An all-new website for the show developed by the Sprayberry Girls Who Code Club breaks down the vendors by category—ranging from arts and photos to jewelry and clothing—as well as the food items.

In addition to concessions sold by the Sprayberry Lady Jackets basketball team, there will be The Patty Wagon and The Food Truck mobile food services.

And most importantly for the shoppers, a map of all the vendors has been laid out in detail, including a shopper rest area.

There will be a variety of raffles, games and prizes, and “Santa Lane” will include letters to Santa that can be submitted. Photos with Santa are $3 a child.

Admission to the show is free. Sprayberry High School is located at 2525 Sandy Plains Road.

 

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Avenue East Cobb donating holiday event proceeds to Habitat

The Avenue East Cobb holiday events

The Avenue East Cobb is donating all proceeds from special holiday event ticket sales to the Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Metro Atlanta.

The Habitat branch announced the news on Wednesday, with the retail center set to put tickets on sale starting next week. Sales begin at 9 a.m. next Monday, Nov. 8.

Those events include Experiences With Santa and Storytime With Santa, which runs from Dec. 1-23.

“We are so grateful Avenue East Cobb selected us as its holiday giveback partner, which will help empower the families we serve during a season that can be tough for many to enjoy,” Jessica Gill, CEO, Habitat for Humanity of Northwest Metro Atlanta, said in the release.

Other ticketed events at The Avenue East Cobb include Letters to Santa on Dec. 1, Christmas Crafts With Santa on Dec. 8, Canvases + Cocoa on Dec. 15 and Milk + Cookies on Dec. 22.

The Habitat chapter will participate in each event, offering more information on the organization’s mission and how to get involved.

“Everybody loves a reason to get together for the holidays, and what could be better than celebrating the season while also supporting those in need,” Madison Murphy, marketing manager at Avenue East Cobb, said in the release. “We’re thrilled to bring these experiences back to AEC and look forward to contributing toward the wonderful work Habitat for Humanity does in the community.”

For more about The Avenue East Cobb’s holiday programming and to purchase event tickets click here.

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Apple Annie Arts and Crafts Show set for new St. Ann parish hall

Apple Annie

After previously being staged in multiple venues at the Catholic Church of St. Ann, the 2022 Apple Annie Arts and Crafts Show will be held in one place—the church’s new parish hall.

The 41st annual show takes place Friday, Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 3 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Parish Life Center at St. Ann (4905 Roswell Road).

It’s organized by the St. Ann’s Council of Catholic Women as a fundraiser for the parish and local charities.

More than 100 artisans will be selling handmade crafts including holiday décor, woodworking, painting, jewelry, stained glass, fabric crafts, and more.

The St. Ann preschool also will be selling baked goods and the Apple Annie Café in the new parish hall will be serving soups, sandwiches and beverages.

There will be raffle prizes, including a handmade quilt.

Admission is $5 for ages 13 and older and is valid both days. Strollers are not permitted.

Parking is available at the church and at The Episcopal Church of St. Peter and St. Paul (1795 Johnson Ferry Road), with free shuttle service.

For more information, please visit https://st-ann.org/apple-annie or on social media: Facebook at www.facebook.com/appleanniecraftshow and Instagram @appleanniecraftshow.

 

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Mt. Zion UMW Holly Jolly Craft Show slated for mid-November

Mt Zion UMC Craft Show

The United Methodist Women’s ministry at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in East Cobb will be holding its Holly Jolly Craft Show in November.

The show will take place on Friday, Nov. 11 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday, Nov. 12 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the church (1770 Johnson Ferry Road).

The show features more than 50 arts and crafts vendors, a silent auction, door prizes, a bake sale and frozen meal sales, as well as a quilt drawing and a gift basket drawing.

There also will be photo opportunities with Santa Clause and baked good made during the show.

Admission is free to the public; all proceeds from the sale benefit the Mt. Zion UMW’s work with charities helping women and children.

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July 4 holiday events in Cobb-Marietta; fireworks guidance

The signature event in Cobb County for Independence Day is the parade and Glover Park celebration in the City of Marietta on Monday, but there are plenty of other events around the county and in East Cobb to enjoy the holiday.

Cobb-Marietta July 4 events
The Mohs family fireworks in East Cobb in 2021.

In East Cobb, the Mohs family will be setting off “professional quality” fireworks around 9 p.m. or sunset at their home at 465 Shadowlawn Road.

That’s three houses up from the intersection of Paper Mill Road, and you’re asked to park in the parking lot at Sope Creek Elementary School (3320 Paper Mill Road).

They said NO parking will be allowed along Shadowlawn or in the Mohs driveway, but there will be transport via a neighbor’s golf cart between the home and the school parking lot for those needing a lift.

In a NextDoor post(which includes a video of last year’s fireworks), Diana Mohs said attendees are welcome to bring blankets or folding chairs, and can arrive early to take a garden tour and visit the Koi fish pond.

The fireworks should last 30-45 minutes, and kids will get glowsticks. Bottled water and some snacks will be provided.

In Marietta, the Let Freedom Ring Parade begins at 10 a.m. Monday at Roswell Street Baptist Church and continues east on Roswell Street to the Square.

More than 110 entries, 2,000 participants and an estimated 30,000 spectators are expected.

IF YOU’RE GOING: The Marietta Police Department said that roads along the parade route will close 45 minutes before and during the parade, and that roads surrounding the Square will be closed all day.

WHAT’S ON TAP: The Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., featuring free live concerts, arts and crafts show, food and carnival games, followed by fireworks at dark.

Here’s the full schedule:

  • 10 a.m. Let Freedom Ring Parade
  • 10 a.m.-9:00 p.m Festival – Arts & Crafts, Kid’s Zone, Festival Food, Free Concerts
  • 12 p.m. Concert featuring Scott Thompson
  • 2 p.m. Bell Ringing Ceremony
  • 2:30 p.m. Concert featuring the Atlanta Concert Band
  • 7 p.m. Concert featuring Josh Jones
  • 8 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Concert featuring Departure: The Journey Tribute Band

TIGHT PARKING: Police are encouraging attendees to use a ride share because of a limited number of parking spots. The parking lot at First United Methodist Church will be closed due to a state fire parking law, and businesses on and around the Square will be open on their own holiday schedules.

TO PICK UP AND DROP OFF PASSENGERS: You’re asked to use the intersection of Lawrence and Waddell streets.

DON’TS FOR THE DECKS: Fireworks are not allowed on any of the decks around the Square; nor will open alcohol containers or consumption.

MAPS: Here’s a look at downtown Marietta parking availability.

MORE INFO: The city of Marietta has all of the July 4 particulars here.

At The Battery Atlanta, the Atlanta Braves will be playing Monday night at Truist Park against the St. Louis Cardinals, followed by fireworks. First pitch is 7:10 p.m. 

For other July 4 festivities in the county, Travel Cobb has all the details.

If you’re going to try your hand at fireworks, keep in mind the Cobb ordinance about when you can do that, and how to do it safely.

From Cobb Government:

Cobb County Code bans the use of fireworks from 9 p.m. to 10 a.m. This is spelled out in the county’s code under the noise ordinances. Violations are a misdemeanor offense and you can view the noise ordinances by going here: Cobb County Noise Ordinance

Use of fireworks in Cobb County parks
Pyrotechnics are prohibited at ALL county parks per County Ordinance § 90-63.
Sec. 90-63. – Restricted or Prohibited Uses of Park Facilities
1. Pyrotechnics prohibited
It shall be unlawful for any persons to possess, display, use, set off or ignite any firecracker, fireworks, smoke bombs, rockets, or other pyrotechnics.

Exemptions carved in by state law
The state legislature has spelled out several exemptions to county code in O.C.G.A. § 25-10-1 et seq. This allows exemptions to county ordinances for use of fireworks on specific dates and times.

  • December 31 (New Year’s Eve) – Fireworks may be discharged until 1 a.m.
  • January 1 (New Year’s Day) – Fireworks may be discharged until midnight.
  • On the last Saturday and Sunday in May – Fireworks may be discharged until midnight.
  • July 3 – Fireworks may be discharged until midnight.
  • July 4 – Fireworks may be discharged until midnight.
  • On the first Monday in September – Fireworks may be discharged until midnight.

To view the Georgia code section regarding fireworks visit:  O.C.G.A. § 25-10-2

 

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Mountain View Library holding ‘Noon Year’s Eve Eve’ party for kids

Submitted information by the Cobb County Public Library System:Mountain View Library Noon Year's Eve Eve Party

Children will celebrate the start of 2022 early with kid-friendly special events on Thursday at Cobb County libraries.

The “Noon Year’s Eve Eve” party at Mountain View Regional Library, 3320 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta, starts at 11:30 am December 30. The event is for children age 10 and younger with a participating adult. Registration is required. For more information, visit cobbcat.org or call 770-509-2725.

“Vinings Noon Year’s Eve” at Vinings Library, 4290 Paces Ferry Road, begins at 11 am Thursday. For information, call the library’s Children’s Department at 770-801-5308.

Cobb County Public Libraries will be closed Friday, December 31 and Saturday, January 1, 2022 in honor of New Year’s Day. Normal hours will resume on Monday, January 3, 2022. CCPL digital resources are available every day of the year. Visit the Research and Digital page to find eBooks, eAudiobooks, digital magazines, comics, newspapers, streaming video and hundreds of other databases and resources covering dozens of topics.

 

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PHOTOS: East Cobb home holiday decorations; send us yours!

East Cobb home holiday decorations
The Susko home at 3284 Timberloch Drive, in the Lower Roswell-Old Canton area; for a larger version click here.

Over the weekend we put out an invitation for East Cobbers to share their home holiday decorations, and we’re posting below some of what we’ve received, and will be adding more.

East Cobb home holiday decorations
An Atlanta Braves ornament on the Christmas tree of Chuck Vrshek.

Feel free to e-mail us your photos to: editor@eastcobbnews.com; we’ll continue compiling them through New Year’s. JPG, JPEG, PNG files are ideal and they’re best sent as attachments instead of in the body of the e-mail template.

The photos can be indoors or outdoors, daytime or evening, and even your Christmas tree, family members, pets, bad sweaters, etc.

And certainly photos of your Christmas Day celebrations—gift-openings, gatherings, etc., are especially welcome.

Thanks East Cobb, for spreading your holiday cheer with the community!

East Cobb home holiday decorations
The Michalove family home, Independence Square
East Cobb home holiday decorations
Submitted by Twitter user @Zevilone
East Cobb home holiday decorations
And the Susko home by day.

Indian Hills resident Jeff Bullis noticed that many homes on Ridgewater Drive were displaying identical 9-foot Santas, and he counted 35 in all.

He lives on another nearby street, and said he “was so inspired, I drove to a Home Depot in Morrow to buy, literally, the last one in Atlanta.”

East Cobb home holiday decorations

East Cobb home holiday decorations

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Hey East Cobb, show us your home holiday decorations!

East Cobb home holiday decorations

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.

East Cobb home holiday decorations

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East Cobb Holiday events: Last chance with Santa; Nativity scene; more

Favorite East Cobb 2020 photos

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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Keep Cobb Beautiful resumes Christmas Tree recycling drive

Keep Cobb Beautiful Bring One for the Chipper

“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.

Residents can drop off their trees for free at various spots in Cobb County, including the parking lots at Home Depot locations.

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.

Keep Cobb Beautiful is providing free mulch for those who request it at keepcobbbeautiful@cobbcounty.org

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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Cobb Stuff-A-Bus drive to stop at Wellstar East Cobb Health Park

Cobb Christmas Inc. and CobbLinc are collecting unwrapped new toys during the annual Stuff-A-Bus Drive Dec. 13-14.Cobb Stuff-A-Bus

A CobbLinc bus decorated for the holidays will be making stops around the county where citizens can drop off their toy donations.

Those stops include the Wellstar East Cobb Health Park (3747 Roswell Road) next Tuesday, Dec. from 8-8:30 a.m.

The toys should be for children ages 3-13, and the donations will be distributed to about 1,000 Cobb families.

For drop off locations more information, visit the Cobb Christmas website at https://cobbchristmas.net/stuffabus/.

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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.

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Sewell Mill Library, The Art Place holding holiday market sale

Several Cobb County Parks and Recreation facilities are holding holiday market sales through Dec. 12.Cobb Parks holiday market

Those venues include the Sewell Mill Library and Cultural Center (2051 Lower Roswell Road) and The Art Place (3330 Sandy Plains Road) in East Cobb.

The sales feature handmade goods from local artisans and small businesses.

The hours are Monday-Saturday 10-6 and this Sunday from 12-6.

Registration for winter arts programs is also underway.

Details for classes at Sewell Mill can be found here; for more about offerings at The Art Place, click here.

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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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East Cobb weekend events: Holiday Lights; Pilgrimage Tour; more

Holiday Lights East Cobb Park

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.

Related posts:

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!