Augusta, GA
Christmas parades and other revelry planned across CSRA this weekend
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – If you like Christmas events, you’ll have a lot of choices this weekend in the CSRA.
Here’s a look at what’s going on:
Saturday
The Jackson Santa breakfast will be Saturday at 9 a.m. at the Jackson Community Center, 104 Main St. Breakfast is $5 and all proceeds from the breakfast benefit Jackson Youth Sports. Santa will arrive on the firetruck and will remain at the breakfast for photo ops.
The 54th annual Christmas craft show in Aiken will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. at the H. Odell Weeks Activities Center. The juried show attracts artisans and shoppers from across the Southeast and is a wonderful opportunity for crafters to sell handmade treasures to thousands of potential customers.
Eudora Wildlife Safari Park, 219 Salem Lane in Salley, will open Santa’s Village, a festive holiday destination offering free admission and activities for the entire family, at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Visitors will enjoy an array of holiday experiences, including cookie decorating, ornament crafting, face painting and more. There will be special appearances by Santa, Mrs. Claus and the Grinch.
The city of Grovetown’s Christmas parade and festival are both planned Saturday. The parade will begin at 10 a.m., starting at Augusta Tech and ending at Grovetown Middle School. The festival will be from 5-9 p.m. at Liberty Park, with food and craft vendors onsite, along with games, music and other fun.
Waynesboro’s Christmas parade will start at 1 p.m. Saturday. The theme will be “Christmas Around the Globe.”
Augusta’s Christmas parade will take place downtown starting at 2 p.m. Saturday. The parade will start on 12th Street, then the Light Up Spectacular festivities will begin at 4 p.m. at the Augusta Common. There will be a kids’ Christmas village, train rides, photos with Santa, the mayor’s Christmas card contest, a kids’ zone with crafts and games, and live performances by Richmond County students. The tree lighting and fireworks show will start at 6.
A self-guided candlelight open-house style tour is planned Saturday from 5-7 p.m. at the Boyhood Home of President Woodrow Wilson. Volunteers will be on hand.
Santa will be riding through North Augusta neighborhoods in a fire engine starting at 6 p.m. Saturday. Santa’s location can be tracked on the North Augusta Department of Public Safety Facebook page at the beginning of the night, along with a map of the planned route. On Saturday, Santa will visit Riverside Village, Hammonds Ferry, East and West Buena Vista Avenue and The Rapids.
There will be a Christmas parade of lights starting at 6 p.m. Saturday in downtown Washington. The annual event is hosted by Wilkes County GA Emergency Services.
Meadow Garden, the historic home of Geroge Walton, signer of the Declaration of Independence, will welcome guests for a candlelight tour from 6-8: Saturday. It’s at 1320 Independence Drive.
Sharon Baptist Church will be holding a free gathering from 7-9 p.m. at the Columbia County Fairgrounds, 5462 Columbia Road in Grovetown. There will be hot cocoa, live music and a kids’ corner.
Sunday
Aiken’s Christmas parade will start at 2 p.m. Sunday. Presented by the Aiken Downtown Development Association, the parade in downtown Aiken will be themed “Holidays Around the World.” The parade will begin at the Aiken Visitors Center and Train Museum, travel southwest down Park Avenue, turn right onto Laurens Street, and continue to travel northwest to Barnwell Avenue. Patrons are allowed to set up on the sidewalks along the parade route. The outside parking spaces along Laurens Street northbound will be cleared of vehicles for patrons to set up chairs before the event.
The Jackson Christmas parade begins at 2 p.m. Sunday. The parade route is down Atomic Road, beginning at Jackson Middle School. This year’s parade lineup is strong, according to organizers.
The Columbia County Christmas parade will begin at 3 p.m. Sunday in the area surrounding Evans Towne Center Park. Here’s the route:
Cedar Creek Church, 3001 Banks Mill Road in Aiken, will host Jingle Jam – a free family-friendly, community event – on Sunday at 4 p.m. It will include music, creative storytelling, a Nativity-themed petting zoo, hayrides, hot dogs, carnival games, balloon artists, cookie decorating, airbrush tattoos, and more.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The city of Augusta announced a temporary closure of New Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam Park.
Closure of the park at 2105 Lock and Dam Road will allow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to repair the lock and dam structure.
The park will be closed from March 4 to April 7.
All areas of the park will be closed.
However, the Baurle Boat Ramp will remain open and accessible to the public for fishing and boating activities.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta 911 center has been named 2025 Communications Center of the Year at the Georgia Emergency Communications Conference in Athens.
The award recognizes excellence in public safety communications, innovation, leadership and service.
The award recognizes a center that demonstrates strong performance in emergency response coordination, training, technology and community engagement.
The Augusta center was selected among agencies statewide for its consistent service, professional standards and coordination with public safety partners.
“This recognition reflects the work our team does every single day,” said Daniel R. Dunlap, 911 director. “Our communications officers are the first point of contact during some of the most difficult moments in a person’s life. They provide reassurance, direction and critical coordination until help arrives. I am incredibly proud of the dedication and strength they show.”
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A new gourmet popcorn shop has opened on Broad Street, bringing a Chicago-style twist to downtown Augusta.
Popn’ Off Gourmet Popcorn and Nuts, located at 716 Broad Street next to the Miller Theater, opened late last year. Owner Sheila Jones moved to Augusta from Chicago, where she said gourmet popcorn has a strong following.
“I’m from Chicago where gourmet popcorn is kind of a big deal,” Jones said.
Specialty flavors made in house
The shop offers specialty flavors including caramel, strawberry drizzle, peppermint, Oreo, green apple, and peanut butter — all made in house. Jones said the experience starts before customers even reach the counter.
“The smell is part of the experience. Green apple, strawberry, strawberry drizzle with chocolate. We have a new peanut butter flavor I just did,” Jones said.
A business built for family
Jones said her move to Augusta and her decision to open the business were driven by her son, who is on the autism spectrum. She said she believed he would be more comfortable in Augusta and wanted to build something that would benefit him long-term.
“I wanted him to have something when he gets older. He has a job already if he wants one. He already has a business,” Jones said.
Jones said starting the business has been harder than she expected. She handles most operations herself, with some help from family. She said the purpose behind the shop keeps her motivated.
“Coming into this every day is fulfilling because I built it. I’m building it and I just wanna see how high we’ll go,” Jones said.
Popn’ Off Gourmet Popcorn and Nuts is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The shop is also holding a pop-up Saturday at noon on Gordon Highway.
Here’s a link to their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584084467886#
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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