Downtown Fayette is the place to be on Saturday, December 2. Fayette Main Street, Inc., is hosting the 2023 Festival of Lights, which will feature the Christmas parade and Magic Tree on the courthouse lawn.

This year’s event boasts a full day of events. At 10 a.m., most retail shops around the square will be open for Christmas shoppers. The Kids Market will set up at 10 a.m. in Tricky Fish Community Hall on S. Main St.

Most downtown businesses will compete again this year in the Hot Cocoa Competition. To absolutely no one’s surprise, Fireside Bakes and Brews won the inaugural competition last year. This year’s competition will be pleasantly “heated” as businesses step up their games. This should be a treat for any hot cocoa enthusiast. 

The annual Holiday Homes Tour features four historic homes thorough Fayette and downtown from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Sponsored by the Friends of the Historic Fayette Memorial Pool, and presented in conjunction with the Fayette Bicentennial, the tours help support efforts to rehabilitate the city’s historic pool at the park.

The homes on this year’s tour are Oakwood on Leonard Ave., the Rethwisch home and Linn Memorial UMC Parsonage on Spring St., and the Dr. Uriel S. Wright Building on the west side of the Fayette square. Tickets are $20 each and may be purchased at area banks, City Hall, and the Uriel S. Wright Building, or at the homes on the day of the tours. (See advertisement on Page 3 for more details).

Kids will have the opportunity to sit on Santa’s lap, and make crafts at Santa’s workshops until 5 p.m. The man in red take children’s Christmas requests from 2 until 4 p.m. at the Attic on the corner of Main and Davis streets.

Children can warm up as they make crafts in Santa’s workshops. Fayette’s Parents As Teachers will host a craft workshop in the Fayette Laundromat on the southeast corner of the square. The local Girl Scout troop will be crafting in Ophelia’s, Fayette’s new flower store on the south side of the square.

Christmas Carolers and holiday entertainment will take place at the band stand from 4 until 5:30 p.m. Then it’s time for the parade!

The annual Christmas parade has become better and better every year, with more entries and creative displays. This year’s theme is “Holiday Movie Marathon” Cash prizes will be awarded for Best Use of Lights, Most Holiday Spirit, and the Best Movie Portrayal. So far, around 20 entrants have signed up, but many just show up when it’s time to start. The cost for a parade entry is $10. 

“The more the merrier,” said Main Street Executive Director Cana Conrow. “I think we will have just as big of a parade this year if not bigger.”

Directly following the parade, the Magic Tree will be lighted on the south side of the courthouse lawn.

After the parade, enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides downtown from 6 to 9 p.m., and have s’mores with Santa at Henry’s on N. Main St. from 6 until 8 p.m.

The mean old Grinch is expected to make an appearance at TJ’s Diner.

And if you still haven’t had enough fun, hang around and enjoy dinner at any of Fayette’s four downtown restaurants: Emmet’s Kitchen & Tap, Bee’s Knees Taproom at the Nest, and Fayette’s newest eatery, TJ’s Diner & Bar., Boricua’s South Street.