Santa Claus will be making several pre-Christmas visits to Conyers, Covington and Porterdale this year before his worldwide journey Christmas Eve. The Eighth Annual Porterdale Christmas Parade will kick-off the season on Friday December 5th at 7:00 p.m. The area’s only nighttime parade is sponsored by the City of Porterdale and the Porterdale Main Street Program.  Gather along Main Street and watch the colorful parade that will culminate with the arrival of Saint Nick in a sleigh being pulled be live reindeer. See the lighting of the Christmas tree and the traditional water tower star. There will be entertainment, hot chocolate, food and fun for the whole family. In an exclusive telephone interview with eMetro Times from his workshop at the North Pole Santa Claus gave this advice.  “Dress warmly and bring your whole family to enjoy this festive night,” said Saint Nick “and remember that I’m still reviewing my Naughty or Nice list so be good for goodness sake.”

In Conyers the Hometown Holiday celebration also starts Friday night December 5th. The Olde Town Christmas Party kicks off Conyers’ holiday season from 5-8 p.m. Kids may visit and have photos made with Santa, shop in the Secret Santa Shop, enjoy a horse drawn carriage ride, shopping in stores and dining in restaurants. For more information, call 770-602-2606. The holiday tradition continues in Olde Town Conyers, the Hometown Holiday Parade will take place on Saturday, Dec. 6th. The 2014 Christmas parade, “Christmas In Paradise,” steps off at 4:30 p.m. from Rockdale County High School as over 70 floats and participants wind their way through Olde Town Conyers. Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive on a Rockdale County fire truck.This event is sponsored by the City of Conyers and Main Street Conyers.

Immediately after the parade, Rockdale County Government will present a holiday program in the Rockdale Auditorium, concluding with the annual lighting of the community tree, along with music and performances.

The Covington Square will be a lighted Christmas holiday celebration on the first three Friday nights in December from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. with children’s activities, movies, entertainment, food vendors and a Christmas Market of local handmade holiday items. The Covington Main Street Program, the City of Covington  and local merchants have worked together to create this Winter Wonderland.  Each Friday night will feature a different holiday theme. On December 5th the Square will be transformed to Whoville and the Grinch will be strolling the crowd. The movie “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” will be show on the giant outdoor screen. You may even see Cindy Lou Who that night. Come dressed as your favorite character.  The December 12th theme will be Frosty the Snowman.  You can watch the Frosty movie while dressed as a snowman or Frozen character.  Friday December 19th will be all about “the most famous reindeer of all”…Rudolph.  Rudolph’s live reindeer friends will be on the square for pictures. The traditional Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer cartoon will be the feature of the night.  Santa will also be available for pictures each night.