Today’s holiday choices: Sylva parade and Polk County Parade of Homes
Today gives listeners two different ways to spend a Sunday afternoon: a Main Street Christmas parade in Sylva or a self-guided Christmas Parade of Homes across Polk County, Tennessee. Both are within a reasonable drive from Murphy, Marble, and Andrews.
* Sylva’s Christmas Parade steps off at 3 p.m. on Main Street with floats, school groups, churches, and businesses.
* Polk County’s third annual Christmas Parade of Homes runs from 1 to 5 p.m. as a self-guided tour of decorated homes, a historic church, and small businesses.
* Evening options after either event include Mountain Country Christmas in Lights in Hiawassee and Blue Ridge on Ice in Blue Ridge.
Sources:
* https://townofsylva.org/notices/sylva-christmas-parade
* https://business.mountainlovers.com/events/details/2025-sylva-christmas-parade-70963
* https://www.discoverjacksonnc.com/event/sylva-christmas-parade/92
* https://www.mainstreetsylva.org/christmas-festivities
* https://www.chamberdata.net/webforms/EvtListing.aspx?dbid2=tnpolk&evtid=27752&class=E
* https://allevents.in/benton/3rd-annual-christmas-parade-of-homes/200029200011235
* https://www.facebook.com/events/1157755322983191
News Date: December 2, 2025.
Five-day weather planner for event nights
A simple five-day outlook helps families decide which evenings are best for heading to parades, park events, and regional light displays. The pattern favors dry weather on Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, with a soggy setup arriving by Thursday.
* Today: mixed clouds and sun with highs in the upper 50s and evening lows in the upper 30s.
* Monday: cooler and mostly cloudy with a brief shower possible early, upper 40s by day and upper 20s at night.
* Tuesday: mostly sunny and crisp, near 50 in the afternoon and mid-20s overnight with icy spots possible in shaded hollows.
* Wednesday: a bit milder with partial sun, mid-50s by day and around freezing at night.
* Thursday: clouds thickening, rain or drizzle likely by afternoon and evening; low-50s during the day and around 40 overnight.
Sources:
* (Tool-based forecast for Murphy, NC, used at production time.)
News Date: December 7, 2025.
Dillsboro’s Lights and Luminaries return
Dillsboro’s Lights and Luminaries turns the riverfront streets into a candlelit village for two evenings this weekend, making it one of the most atmospheric holiday outings east of Murphy.
* Lights and Luminaries run Friday and Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m. in downtown Dillsboro.
* Organizers highlight thousands of luminaria, live music, and visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus.
* Regional travel writers describe it as a walk-through “Hallmark town” experience rather than a ticketed attraction.
Sources:
* https://business.mountainlovers.com/events/details/2025-dillsboro-lights-and-luminaries-70896
* https://www.discoverjacksonnc.com/event/dillsboro-lights-%26-luminaries/56
* https://smokymountainnews.com/arts/item/40580-dillsboro-s-lights-luminaries
* https://www.ourstate.com/events/lights-and-luminaries
* https://kiddingaroundgreenville.com/lights-and-luminaries-dillsboro
News Date: December 2, 2025.
Hayesville’s courthouse-square Christmas parade
Clay County’s Christmas Parade turns downtown Hayesville into a nighttime courthouse-square celebration with floats circling the historic courthouse and Beal Center. For many families on the Clay County side of Lake Chatuge, this is the main hometown parade of the season.
* The 2025 Christmas Parade is scheduled for Saturday at 6 p.m. on the downtown square.
* Clay County Progress and community posts highlight strong participation from churches, civic groups, school programs, and local businesses.
* Historic Hayesville materials frame the courthouse and Beal Center as the focal point for both the parade route and local shopping.
Sources:
* https://www.facebook.com/events/3881689218736344
* https://allevents.in/hayesville/2025-christmas-parade/200029096506037
* https://www.claycountyprogress.com/local-newsletter/christmas-parade
* https://historichayesvilleinc.com
* https://business.claychambernc.com/calendar
News Date: December 4, 2025.
Classic Christmas at Meeks Park in Blairsville
Blairsville’s Classic Christmas at Meeks Park offers a park-style holiday afternoon instead of a traditional street parade, with Santa photos, treats, and music along the river. It’s a natural option for families willing to make a short drive from Cherokee and Clay counties.
* Classic Christmas at Meeks Park runs Saturday from 2 to 7 p.m.
* The county describes hot chocolate, popcorn, music, and photo opportunities with Santa and the Grinch as the core attractions.
* The park setting makes it easy to combine the event with a quick trip through Blairsville’s downtown shops and restaurants.
Sources:
* https://www.unioncountyga.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=97
* https://www.unioncountyga.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?CID=1
* https://www.facebook.com/UnionCountyGaGovt/posts/1178676414447780
* https://www.facebook.com/UnionCountyGaGovt/posts/1179519637696791
* https://www.facebook.com/groups/967563690814214/posts/1859957758241465
News Date: December 2, 2025.
Mountain Country Christmas in Lights over Lake Chatuge
Mountain Country Christmas in Lights at the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds in Hiawassee is one of the largest repeat-night attractions in the region, drawing visitors from Murphy, Andrews, Hayesville, and beyond.
* The light show runs through December 24, generally starting at 6 p.m. on open nights.
* Families can walk through light tunnels, listen to music, shop at arts and crafts booths, and visit with Santa, Mrs. Claus, and the Grinch.
* Event calendars note that it operates on select nights earlier in December and moves to every night closer to Christmas.
Sources:
* https://georgiamountainfairgrounds.com/localevents/christmas
* https://georgiamountainfairgrounds.com/pageserver/christmas-info
* https://blueridgecountry.com/events/mountain-country-christmas-in-lights-2025
* https://theblueridgehighlander.com/calendar/index.php?eID=16038
* https://business.claychambernc.com/calendar/Details/mountain-country-christmas-in-lights-1448809
News Date: August 25, 2025.
Blue Ridge on Ice: skating beside the drive-in
Blue Ridge on Ice gives families and visitors a covered outdoor rink at the Blue Ridge Farmers Market, just down the road from the Swan Drive-In. It’s easy to pair a skating session with shopping and dinner in downtown Blue Ridge.
* The ice skating season runs from late November into early January, with guides listing dates such as November 21 or 26 through January 6.
* The rink is covered and operates rain or shine, with concessions like burgers, hot dogs, and fried treats.
* Tourism write-ups position it as a family outing or date-night add-on for anyone visiting the Copper Basin or downtown Blue Ridge.
Sources:
* https://blueridgeonice.com
* https://www.blueridgemountains.com/events/blue-ridge-on-ice
* https://www.blueridgemountains.com/events/annual-events/blue-ridge-on-ice
* https://www.blueskycabinrentals.com/blue-ridge-christmas.htm
* https://exploregeorgia.org/things-to-do/list/experience-the-magic-of-ice-skating-in-georgia
* https://southerncomfortcabinrentals.com/blog/blue-ridge-mountains-january-events
News Date: November 24, 2025.
Copper Country Christmas in the twin cities
Copper Country Christmas turns downtown Copperhill and McCaysville into a shared riverfront holiday village for an afternoon, drawing in families from Turtletown, Ducktown, and nearby North Carolina.
* The event is scheduled for Saturday, December 13, from noon to 5 p.m. in downtown Copperhill and McCaysville.
* Visitors can expect arts and crafts, local shopping, live music, and Santa photos along the river and near the state line bridge.
* It’s the Copper Basin’s main afternoon event of the season, often combined with a trip on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway or a skating stop in Blue Ridge.
Sources:
* https://www.copperhilltn.com/events
* https://www.blueridgemountains.com/events/copper-country-christmas
* https://www.blueskycabinrentals.com/blue-ridge-christmas.htm
* https://www.cedarcreekcabinrentals.com/blog/copperhill-mccaysville-christmas
News Date: November 29, 2025.
An Authentic Appalachian Christmas at Stecoah Valley Center
Stecoah Valley Center’s “Authentic Appalachian Christmas” concert with Appalachian Road Show offers a heritage-rich night of music and storytelling for listeners who’d rather sit in an old auditorium than stand on a parade route.
* The concert is scheduled for Saturday, December 13, at 7:30 p.m. in the Lynn L. Shields Auditorium.
* Event write-ups emphasize a blend of bluegrass, stories, and Christmas traditions pulled from across the Appalachian region.
* Regional calendars promote it as a signature holiday event for Robbinsville, Stecoah, and the surrounding communities.
Sources:
* https://stecoahvalleycenter.com/calendar/appalachian-roadshow
* https://stecoahvalleycenter.com/concerts
* https://grahamcountytravel.com/event/appalachian-road-show-authentic-appalachian-christmas
* https://grahamcountytravel.com/events/week/2025-12-09
* https://www.cherokeescout.com/events/spotlight-events-292
News Date: December 3, 2025.
Angel Tree at Copperhill Brewery: holidays and quiet generosity
Copperhill Brewery’s Angel Tree fundraiser ties the joy of Copper Country Christmas to very local needs, giving visitors a way to turn an afternoon out into something that directly helps kids and families.
* A Bike Knight gathering at Copperhill Brewery on Saturday afternoon raises money for the Angel Tree Christmas Project.
* Brewery and partner posts invite people in town for Copper Country Christmas to stop in, enjoy live music and food, and pick an Angel Tree tag.
* Follow-up photos show gifts and clothing collected through the project being delivered to families across the Copper Basin.
Sources:
* https://allevents.in/copperhill/nkmc-appalachian-chapter-bike-knight/200029292911348
* https://www.blueridgemountains.com/events/bike-knight-to-benefit-the-angel-tree-christmas-project
* https://copperhillbrewery.com
* https://www.facebook.com/CopperhillBrewery
* https://www.facebook.com/FanninCountyChamberofCommerce
News Date: November 30, 2025.
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Notes, methods, and rights
This update was assembled using a mix of human editorial judgment, public records, and reputable local and regional news sources, with help from artificial intelligence tools to summarize and organize information. All information is drawn from publicly available sources listed above. Every effort is made to keep details accurate as of publication time, but listeners should always confirm time-sensitive items such as event schedules, ticket prices, and weather-related changes with official event organizers and local agencies.
All original content, formatting, and presentation are copyright 2025 River Run Digital and Metora Solutions LLC, all rights reserved. To learn more about River Run Digital and its local news projects, visit https://go.riverrun.digital.
