Rabun County gets in the Christmas spirit | The Clayton Tribune, Rabun County, GA

From Staff Reports

Megan Broome/The Clayton Tribune. Santa and Mrs. Claus took a break from Christmas preparations at the North Pole to visit with children in Rabun County Monday. The cheerful duo was spotted at Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Metro Brokers in Clayton. The business was decorated with Christmas cheer and Santa and Mrs. Claus passed out cookies and candy canes to children. Pictured is 6-year-old Jace Shirley who is excited to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Submitted photo. Currahee Brewing Company in Clayton raised $800 for the local Duvall Automotive Toys for Our Town charity at its nonprofit fundraising night Dec. 1. The event also brought in two truck loads of toys to be shared in Rabun County. Donations to Toys for Our Town are distributed to children in need exclusively in Rabun County. Pictured are community members and business owners Sandra Glichowski, left, Hillary Marshall, Ara Joyce, Patti Barnett, and Scott Mazarky shopping for children.
Photo courtesy of Matis Family. Many local houses like this of one of Andrew and Deedee Matis at 23 Cross Street in Clayton are all lit up for the Christmas holiday. Over the recent weeks, multiple events have been held to display festive lights.
Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Childen came in vehicles to the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia on Dec. 16 for a drive-thru Christmas gift giveaway. The youth saw Santa Claus as he greeted families at 46 Plaza Way in Clayton.
Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. The Clayton Farmers Market held a Christmas Market on Dec. 10 in the covered bridge shopping center in Clayton. The event was free as people could visit with Santa. Also available were gifts, goodies, stocking stuffers, art, local produce, soaps, baked goods, flowers, jams, honey, mushrooms, freeze dried candy, cooking salts, and Indian food. Canned or non-perishable food items were requested.
Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Santa waves to those in the long line at the Food Bank drive-thru to receive a wrapped gift. Wearing a seasonal hat (center), James Brim, the Mountain Branch director of the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia helps direct traffic.
Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Children got the chance to decorate Christmas cookies and gingerbread houses for free at the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia on Dec. 15. With an adult, the youth dropped by the Teaching Kitchen to practice their decorating techniques, learn about royal icing, and create beautiful treats to take home. Recipes also were provided.
Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Blake Olivia Ruiz, Parker Cavender, Holden Cavender, Brantley Cavender and Easton Cavender decorate gingerbread houses and cookies on Dec. 15 at the Teaching Kitchen. The event was free as the children got to create and eat.
Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Teresia Dunn assists Estella Joy Chastain with a gingerbread house.
Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. The room at the Teaching Kitchen was busy with creative activity.
Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Israel Henslee, 3, and Lathan Henslee, 5, work to finalize their roofs.
Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Student-athletes from the Rabun County High School softball team carry the “Merry Christmas” banner near the beginning of the Dec. 3 Clayton Christmas Parade on Main Street.
Megan Broome/The Clayton Tribune. Leland, 4, Karsyn, 6, and Raedyn, 8, smile as they color and have a great time at the Christmas Village of Lights display in Tiger.
Megan Broome/The Clayton Tribune. Chance Epps, 4, plays with his Santa toy and a train at FAITH’s Christmas Village of Lights display.
Megan Broome/The Clayton Tribune. Cora Blitch, 10, and Jason Blitch, 7, visit Santa and Mrs. Claus and discuss what they want for Christmas this year at FAITH’s Christmas Village of Lights display two weeks ago in Rabun County.
Megan Broome/The Clayton Tribune. These snowmen made out of milk bottles are some of many decorations to see at the Christmas Village of Lights display in Tiger during the holiday season.
Megan Broome/The Clayton Tribune. Brooke Cannon, chief financial officer of FAITH, shows 9-month-old Holton Morgan the train set at the Christmas Village of Lights display provided by the local nonprofit Fight Abuse in the Home (FAITH) and Kirk Knous earlier this month.
Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Ishmael Santos and children Bella Ciochetti, Joset Vernes and Steve Webster are among those riding on the Rotary Club of Clayton’s Christmas Parade float on Main Street on Dec. 3.
Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. Santa Claus and youth on the City of Clayton’s float wave to the crowd at the Dec. 3 Clayton Christmas Parade near The Rock House on Main Street.

Submitted photo. Commander Robert Williams (right) and Dywane Dotson, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Camp 1929 (The Rabun Gap Riflemen) honor and present a Christmas Wreath & Prayer for the 193 Confederate soldiers buried in Rabun County. Visit www.rabunscv.org for more information.

Rabun County offered many family-oriented and fun activities for children to enjoy during the holiday season.

From creating Gingerbread houses and collecting gifts at the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia; having fun at the annual Christmas parade sponsored by the Rabun County Chamber of Commerce and Forward Rabun; enjoying the Christmas lights and miniature indoor village at FAITHs Christmas Village of Lights in Tiger; Wreaths Across America honoring the county's Confederate Veterans; visits by Santa and Mrs. Claus around the county; and many other festivities in between, the holiday season was filled with happiness and cheer.

Visits from The Grinch didn't even stop the fun as he was apprehended by local law enforcement agencies.

In this week's edition of The Clayton Tribune, check out the Letters to Santa to see what wishes children have on their Christmas lists.