GEORGETOWN — Front Street will be glowing even brighter this holiday season.
After seeing the popularity of Conway’s Halloween transformation, Georgetown officials began working to make the city a Christmas destination.
“We have expanded our lights exponentially,” said Al Joseph, Georgetown’s Main Street director. “Three years ago, we lit 11 trees – this year we have 124.”
Joseph has been able to do more to enhance the city’s holiday cheer, thanks to city leaders funding his efforts. There are now 142 light poles wrapped with decorative garlands.
Georgetown is decorated for the 2024 holiday season.
“The entire business district, every tree on the street, and we added two parks where we light trees,” he said. “There’s going to be a lot more lights, a lot more trees and a lot more Christmas.”
Georgetown resident Robbie Buice helped take the city’s Christmas decor to the next level by building a large wooden sleigh and reindeer set. The sleigh is 8 feet long with two 9-foot reindeer that will reside in Joseph Rainey Park.
Visitors are welcome to sit in the sleigh and take photos with their families.
“It’s just something to bring the holiday spirit to a town that really needs some,” Buice said while taking a break from painting the reindeer and sleigh.
Georgetown has been reeling since Oct. 31 when International Paper announced it would shut down its 87-year-old mill and cut nearly 700 jobs in the process.
The looming shutdown led to the county organizing job fairs and Front Street businesses launching a toy drive.
Apart from the efforts to help mill workers, throughout the Christmas season the town will host a number of festive events like the Christmas tree lighting on Dec. 6 and a Christmas parade the following day.
A number of sip-and-shop events will also be taking place throughout the month of December.
Doodlebugs Children’s Finery and Gifts owner Ginger Gray said she’s had her business on Front Street for 22 years and she’s seen how much visitors and residents alike love the lights.
“It just kind of makes you feel like you’ve got that hometown Christmas atmosphere,” Gray said. “Last year it was just on this block, maybe two blocks. It was great they were able to extend it down Front Street.”
Joseph is already making plans for next year. He hopes to be able to run lights on the Harborwalk behind all the buildings.
“I would like a tunnel of lights there,” he said, adding that he hopes to have some electrical work done to install more outlets by the time Christmas 2025 rolls around.
Joseph also plans to decorate Constitution Park, which is currently under construction as part of the city’s recent stormwater project.
“That park should be redesigned before next Christmas,” he said.
Marley Morris, owner of Cashlyn’s Boutique, said the new décor entices more people to shop locally.
“As a small-town business owner, celebrating holidays plays a huge role in bringing our customers in,” Morris said. “The Christmas decorations around Georgetown have given such a warm Christmas spirit welcome to everyone who comes to town. We are so proud of our southern Christmas town and we hope people continue to shop small this season.”
