Augusta, GA

Christmas parades and other revelry planned across CSRA this weekend

Published

1 year ago

December 7, 2024

Press Room

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.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta business gives away toys despite delayed opening

Published

4 hours ago

December 24, 2025

Press Room

Augusta business gives away toys despite delayed opening

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – An Augusta business gave away toys to kids in the community one night before Christmas Eve, despite not being able to open this holiday season.

Orange Hand Vintage gave away bikes and toys on Tuesday while helping to pay bills for some people in need.

Brandon Jackson, who is employed at Orange Hand Vintage, said the business went to Walmart to load up on more items.

“Then I went back to the list, and I scrolled through. And those that touched my heart are the ones that we ended up helping,” Jackson said. “We’re planning to still help some, depending on what it is that they’re asking for. We’re just trying to do as much as we can.”

The store is expecting to open in late January or early February.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta arena work brings hope to ailing Broad Street businesses

Published

16 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Press Room

Augusta arena work brings hope to ailing Broad Street businesses

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Work is moving along for the Augusta Arena, with less than two years remaining until the project is finished.

Funded by a half-penny sales tax approved by voters, the former James Brown Arena was torn down to make way for a space to hold more than 10,000 seats and eventually host hockey in the Garden City once again.

Officials said they have finished pouring the third level of concrete where the suites will be and are now working on the fourth level, the upper concourse.

Brad Usry, vice chairman of the Augusta Richmond County Coliseum Authority, said the progress is great after years of planning.

“In one word, it’s satisfaction. I mean, we’ve been working on this thing for over 10 years. So to finally see it going up and people seeing the fruits of our labor, it’s really nice,” Usry said.

The new Augusta Arena is starting to take shape as crews pour concrete, with the steel frame coming in a few months.

“We’re talking 900 feet long, three football fields long. The old arena was 50 feet tall. This arena is going to be close to 100 feet tall,” Usry said.

The arena’s impact could extend beyond entertainment, according to businesses on Broad Street.

Richard Sanders, manager of the Downtown Corner Store that opened this summer, said business is struggling, but the new arena could breathe life back into the area.

“A lot of the businesses that focus on either foot traffic or people just come at like, whether it’s a bar, restaurant. I mean, they’re all struggling right now,” Sanders said.

Sanders said events at venues like the Bell Auditorium already help local businesses.

“Once it opens, I mean, even when, I mean, even when they do stuff at the Bell, it helps. When they did stuff at the old Civic Center or James Brown Arena, it helped,” Sanders said.

Michael Weldon, owner of Psychotronic Records on Broad Street, said major acts bring new customers to his store.

“The first show I went to was Alice in Chains. And the last show that we went to, there was Cheap Trick and ZZ Top,” Weldon said of the former arena.

“When there’s a good show by a name artist in town, no matter where they’re playing, we get people in here that maybe are here for the first time,” Weldon said.

Usry said the project remains on time and on budget.

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Augusta, GA

Augusta Fire Department toy pickup brings holiday joy to families

Published

1 day ago

December 23, 2025

Press Room

Augusta Fire Department toy pickup brings holiday joy to families

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Augusta Fire Department’s toy pickup event brought smiles to children and parents as dozens of families in need collected new gifts to put under the tree.

The toys were donated by local businesses, nonprofits and families of Augusta Fire Department members. For organizers, the event represents more than just gift distribution.

“It’s been supremely joyous for everyone. I haven’t seen anyone who hasn’t had a completely wide smile on their face when they come through,” said Lerone Beasley, deputy chief of technical services. “Everyone has just been overwhelmed and happy about this opportunity.”

The fire department said the event celebrates unity, compassion and the true meaning of giving.

This is the second year that Augusta Fire has hosted the toy pickup event.

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