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Among the Christmas events planned for the area in 2024 are two key celebrations happening this coming weekend — the Franklin Christmas Parade on Friday, Dec. 6, and the Southampton Agriculture & Forestry Museum’s Polar Express Nostalgic Christmas on Saturday evening, Dec. 7.

FRANKLIN CHRISTMAS PARADE

This year’s edition of the Franklin Christmas Parade will take place Dec. 6 starting at 7 p.m. in downtown Franklin.

Presented by the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation, the 2024 edition of the parade features the theme “Winter Wonderland: A Character’s Christmas.” This theme will be reflected in floats that onlookers can spot as they progress through the parade.

“We are thrilled and thankful for the participation from our local community and beyond,” city officials stated on social media.

For more information on the event, contact Parks and Recreation at 757-562-2475.

POLAR EXPRESS NOSTALGIC CHRISTMAS

The Polar Express Nostalgic Christmas event will take place from 4-7 p.m. on Dec. 7 at the Southampton Heritage Village/Agriculture & Forestry Museum in Courtland.

Lynda T. Updike is president of the museum and village’s umbrella organization, the Southampton County Historical Society, and she noted that activities on Saturday will officially start at 5 p.m. The event is open to all people in the area for either a small monetary fee or a canned food donation that will go to a local food bank named Bags of Hope.

A variety of impressive model trains will be running inside the museum for the entirety of the event.

“We also have the train that will circle the building, and kids can ride it,” Updike said, referring to the life-size, non-model train that has operated under the title of Son-beam Express in the past.

Santa Claus will be on hand under the Howell Pavilion sometime after the event begins, and he will be available to pose for photos.

“The kids can decorate an old-timey Christmas tree, the old cedar trees, and they can string popcorn and cranberries and put them on the tree,” Updike said.

There will also be a nativity scene with live animals that Updike will supply.

“I’m going to have Pig and Butterscotch,” she said, referring to a goat and a sheep, respectively.

Free hot chocolate and cookies will be available to those attending the event.

Additionally, the Sedley Baptist Church youth group will be selling food and drinks as part of a fundraiser for a future mission trip.

“We will have fire barrels burning around different places,” Updike said, anticipating any chilly weather that may be present Dec. 7. “If any visitors get cold, they can hold their hands over the barrel and get them warm again.”

For more information on the event, contact Updike at 757-654-6785.