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.

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