TIFTON — Tifton’s beloved Christmas celebration Hometown Holidays will be making its way back home to the Friendly City this winter.

Marking the twenty-third year of holiday celebrations in Tifton, the classic festival is set to return to kick off the month of December.

Tifton’s Christmas festivities have gone through multiple name changes in recent years, but the city ultimately decided to make a return to form due to community opinions–not out of a dislike for the other celebrations, but because the beloved event had become more associated with the city’s Christmas spirit.

“We’d just heard from a lot of citizens, merchants, even out of town people, that knew what our Christmas celebration was known for,” said Hillery Culpepper, city Main Street director. “That was Hometown Holidays.”

With the theme of “Down Home Country Christmas,” organizers plan to bring Tifton’s Christmas festivities back to their roots, celebrating what makes the holiday itself special.

Residents can expect to enjoy the same games, events, attractions, and cheer that they’ve come to know and love from the city’s holiday parties, including the annual Christmas parade, which will certainly see an appearance from old Saint Nick.

Culpepper reported that the city also has some new plans and surprises in store to make the celebration the best they can, which they’re eager to reveal as they come closer to the holiday event in question.

“I can remember coming to Tifton’s Christmas celebration and the memories that I have walking away from that,” Culpepper said. “Now, I get to play a part in helping plan it, so I just hope the next generation makes those memories with their families.”

Hometown Holidays is scheduled to take place the evening of Dec. 2, and is set to be free and open to the community. For more information, contact the office of the Main Street Manager at (229)391-3965.