Holly Hill festival to showcase multicultural entertainment

The multicultural showcase will include gospel, rhythm-and-blues, country, and bluegrass music in addition to dance performances by the Edisto Natchez-Kusso Tribe of South Carolina and African dancers from Charleston.

Friday, Dec. 6

Mayor Billy Chavis will open the festival by turning on the lights of the town Christmas tree at 6 p.m.

Church youth choirs and school choirs will render songs. Representatives of Vanessa’s Dance Studio and the Holly Hill Elementary School BETA Club will perform dances. Events will conclude by 10 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 7

Events will commence at 10 a.m. and close by 10 p.m. and will include food trucks and other vendors.

The annual Christmas parade is set to begin at 11 a.m., featuring bands, floats, and of course Santa Claus. To sign up an entry for the parade, contact Leanne Troutman at 803-759-0864.

Candy cannot be tossed during the parade. Instead, children are encouraged to pick up free goodies at a “Candyland” booth at the festival.

Santa will stay in town for a while after the parade to pose for photos with children and listen to their requests for Christmas.

At 2 p.m., “Whoville comes to Holly Hill” as the public library hosts its annual Meet the Grinch event. Free and open to all, the event features a story time, hot cocoa, a movie, popcorn, crafts, and photos with the Grinch. For details, contact the library at 803-496-7177.

Sunday, Dec. 8

The evening’s featured event is the annual Drive-Through and Walk-Through Live Nativity Scenes from the Story of Jesus’ Life and The Early Part of His Ministry.

The scenes will be played out along the driveway at the governmental complex. Motorists will enter from east Peake Street and exit onto west Peake Street.

Church groups, youth groups, and individuals are encouraged to select one of the 17 scenes and sign up to re-enact it between 5 and 7 p.m.

For more information, contact Kenneth High at 803-857-1399 or Dr. Gaynell Walters at 803-809-9017.

More events

All businesses, churches, and residents throughout ZIP Code 29059 are encouraged to enter the annual holiday decorating contest by filling out a form at the Town Hall or calling 803-496-3330 before Wednesday, Dec. 4, which is the day that the judging will be done.

An Angel Tree will be set up at the festival. Visitors are encouraged to select a recipient and drop off donations of Christmas gifts by Dec. 15.

The festival committee plans to provide updates by way of its Facebook page and the “special events” page of the town’s official website.