Where Christmas Comes Home: Valdosta’s Newest Holiday Tradition
For Mrs. Claus, Christmas has always been about something much deeper than just decorations and gifts. For 12 years, she and Santa have shared the high honor of creating lifelong holiday memories for local families. It is a heartwarming legacy passed down through Santa’s own father—and it is this exact love for family, community, and tradition that has inspired a beautiful new chapter: A HomeTown Christmas.
Presented by Home Town Festivals, this premier event is scheduled to light up the community on November 28, 2026. With a dedicated motto of "Putting the Unity Back in Community," the organizers are aiming to build a festive haven where families can gather, memories are made, and Christmas truly comes home.
The Vision: More Than Just a Market
While the holiday season brings plenty of pop-up shops, A HomeTown Christmas is being built from the ground up to serve a greater purpose. The event organizers have outlined a clear three-pronged mission for why they are building this magical experience:
- Create Family Traditions: Establishing a reliable, joyful space where families can return year after year to make memories together.
- Support Local Businesses: Empowering regional vendors, talented artisans, and local restaurants to strengthen the area's economy.
- Drive Tourism: Attracting visitors from across the region and beyond to experience everything Valdosta has to offer during the most wonderful time of the year.
Looking to the future, Home Town Festivals has a bold Five-Year Vision to establish this event as a premier, multi-day regional Christmas destination recognized across South Georgia and North Florida. The long-term goal is to generate a lasting economic and cultural impact for Valdosta and Lowndes County.
Take a Walk Through the Christmas Village
The event layout is designed to immerse guests in holiday magic from the moment they step through the gates. Visitors can look forward to exploring a wide range of interactive attractions and features:
Christmas Village Marketplace
A sprawling holiday market boasting over 100 local vendors. Guests can "shop local" across themed avenues including Evergreen Market, Mistletoe Lane, Holly Square, Gingerbread Row, and Jingle Bell Junction.
Live Entertainment & Santa’s Workshop
The Christmas Performance Lawn features an existing stage that will host festive live music and community performances throughout the event. Nearby, children and families can visit Santa’s Workshop to experience firsthand holiday magic and meet the big man himself.
Christmas Food Court
A massive 20' x 30' dining tent flanked by a diverse lineup of local food trucks will serve up delicious food, hot drinks, and holiday treats to keep everyone warm and well-fed.
A New Community Tradition: The Twelve Trees of Christmas
One of the absolute highlights of the evening will be a coordinated spectacle at the main stage. A live choir will sing the classic carol The Twelve Days of Christmas. With each verse sung, one of the Twelve Trees of Christmas will spectacularly light up. Following the lighting of the final tree, the community will join voices to sing Silent Night as a beautiful Live Nativity is illuminated.
How You Can Get Involved
An event built on community requires community hands to bring it to life. Home Town Festivals is actively looking for passionate people and local businesses to join their single mission. There are four primary ways to participate:
- Sponsor or Connect: Help secure the future of this lasting tradition by sponsoring a tree or connecting organizers with businesses looking to make an impact.
- Become a Vendor: Showcase your small business or artisan crafts in the Marketplace to reach thousands of local families.
- Volunteer: Join the behind-the-scenes team to help manage logistics, greet guests at the Welcome Plaza, and spread holiday cheer.
- Provide Entertainment: Choirs, solo musicians, dancers, and community performance groups are invited to share their talents on the main stage.
Get in Touch!
To secure your vendor space, learn about sponsorship tiers, or sign up to volunteer, reach out directly to Denise Peters at Home Town Festivals via phone at 309-714-8398 or email at Denisepeters323@gmail.com. You can also visit hometownfestivals.org or follow them on social media at @hometownfestivals.
