Christmas “Inn” Our Town is a tradition like no other in the Upstate. The 2017 Christmas Festival in Fountain Inn started with the lighting of the tree on City Hall grounds on November 30th. As always, our main attraction is our traditional horse-drawn carriage rides through downtown and the Inn Circle neighborhood, which will continue through Saturday, December 16th. Each carriage holds 16 people; all tickets are $8.00 per person, but children under three years of age are free.
Unique to this year’s festival is that each week/weekend has a distinct theme. “Service ‘Inn’ Our Town” consisted of a Charity Fair on December 1st at the Farmer’s Market Pavilion welcoming charities and non-profits the opportunity to share about their organizations with the community. We also have placed TOYS FOR TOTS Donation Boxes at the Recreation Department, City Hall, Police Department, and Fountain Inn Natural Gas Department until December 16th. We hope you will consider donating to those less fortunate this holiday season.
On Saturday December 2nd, running enthusiasts from all around participated in the 5th Annual Rudolph Run & 1 Mile Kids Run. All proceeds from this event benefit FIKE: Fountain Inn Kid Enrichment Center, an after school and mentoring program for under resourced boys and girls.
The Second leg of our festival entitled, “Kids ‘Inn’ Our Town” was kicked off by the Fountain Inn Chamber of Commerce “Spirit of Christmas Past” parade and I was honored to be the Grand Marshal. Santa’s Workshop over at the Gas Station on the Corner of Trade and Main has been a big hit! Don’t worry, there’s still time to take pictures with Santa and talk to him about your Christmas wishes!
On December 7th, 8th, and 9th, we showed three of my all-time favorite Christmas movies at 6:30 p.m. at Commerce Park, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, The Polar Express, and Elf for FREE! To go along with the movies, we also had an awesome Kid’s Fair which featured craft stations for the kiddos to make ornaments and keychains. My daughter had a blast on the trackless train and the carousel on both the 8th and 9th.
To conclude the magical Christmas “Inn” Our Town festival, we certainly hope you will “Shop ‘Inn’ Our Town”. On December 14th, 15th, and 16th, please join us at the Farmer’s Market Pavilion on Depot Street for a Craft Vendor Fair where you will surely find a unique item for that special someone on your list this season. To celebrate the yuletide season in style, on Saturday, December 16th, plan on coming out to Commerce Park for a festive City of Fountain Inn Christmas Party with The Flashbacks coming on Stage at 6:30 p.m. We’ll also be announcing the winners of our Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest and Gingerbread House Competitions. When you work up an appetite dancing at the concert, make sure to eat in downtown or check out one of the multiple food truck vendors we’ll have available.
We are proud of our City and we hope you will keep us INN mind for your holiday plans.
Shawn Bell is the City Administrator of Fountain Inn. For more information, go to www.fountaininn.org, call 864-862-4421, or email shawn.bell@fountaininn.org.♦
