The 41st annual Christmas Stroll is this weekend in downtown Georgetown around the Courthouse Square. This holiday festival sponsored by the Downtown Georgetown Association is 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday, December 2 and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, December 3. See all the details at www.TheGeorgetownSquare.com.

The Christmas Stroll on Saturday includes a parade at 10 a.m., live entertainment, and holiday shopping at 175 arts and crafts booths as well as downtown merchants. The Bistro Food Court offers hot chocolate, funnel cake, and other seasonal treats. Enjoy Santa’s Village Among the Trees at the Brungot Christmas Tree Farm all day Saturday, including photos and visits with Santa from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. New this year from 3 to 4 p.m. on Saturday is dinner with the Grinch and Santa in Santa’s Village.

In the Whoo-Village children’s area by Grace Bible Church on Friday night and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., you’ll find rides for kids, the popular Whoo-hair booth, and a special visitor—the Grinch himself. Visit Whoo-Village on Friday night from 6 to 8 p.m. for a special Dessert with the Grinch.

Bethlehem Village by Georgetown Church of Nazarene features booths, displays, and performers in costume from the first century. Learn about life at the time of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth.

Look for the Kids Zone and Craft Area with hands-on fun such as ornament making, cookie decorating, Home Depot kid’s construction area, and Hula Hoop lessons. The Kids Zone is open Friday evening and Saturday.

Stroll always showcases local talent with musical, dance, and drama performances on two stages. Live entertainment includes choirs and orchestras from Georgetown schools, local dance groups, and many more performers. See the schedule at www.TheGeorgetownSquare.com.

Admission to Stroll is free. A donation of a new toy to Blue Santa or Brown Santa is appreciated. Look for collection barrels on the Square. The Stroll and parade are rain-or-shine events and will be held unless there is severe weather.

Parade at 10 a.m. on Saturday

The downtown Stroll Parade on Church Street and Austin Avenue starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday. For safety reasons, the Georgetown Police Department asks that no candy or any objects be thrown from floats or participants in the parade. (Click on parade graphic for a larger version.)

Elves with Georgetown Blue Santa will be collecting new, unwrapped toys along the route of the Christmas Stroll parade. For donation barrel sites and more information, go to BlueSanta.Georgetown.org.

Event Parking

After 12 p.m. (noon) on Saturday, festival-goers may park in the City of Georgetown parking lot on the west side of Austin Avenue at Fifth Street. This is a free lot.

Parking is available at the Williamson County parking structure at Third and Rock Streets and at the County lot at Rock and Sixth streets. These are free lots.

The City parking lot at Ninth and Main streets will be used for handicapped parking and public parking on Saturday. This is a free lot.

The City parking lot at Sixth and Main streets will be closed starting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, December 3 through Saturday. This lot will be used for the food court.

Street Closures

Austin Avenue will be closed from 6 a.m. on Saturday until 1 a.m. on Sunday between Seventh and Eighth streets. The Austin Avenue closure will expand from Second to 11th streets on Saturday between 6 a.m. and 12 p.m. (noon) to allow for the Stroll Parade. The Austin Avenue detour will be on Rock. Street. Austin Avenue will remain open on Friday.

Other streets around the Square will be closed on Saturday. Street closures include Sixth Street, Seventh Street, Eighth Street, Ninth Street, and Main Street in a one-block radius from the Courthouse Square. Go to www.TheGeorgetownSquare.com for details.

More Information

For more information, go the Downtown Georgetown Association website at www.TheGeorgetownSquare.com. The Stroll is co-sponsored by and receives in-kind support from the City of Georgetown.