The holiday season is truly underway in the county with community Christmas festivities abounding.

The parade season is upon us, with no less than three community parades slated to take place this week.

Greenville will kick off things beginning at 5 p.m. this Thursday, Dec. 4 with the return of Santa’s Workshop outside the Main Street offices downtown.

Expect hot cocoa and tasty treats, children’s activities, vendors and volunteers dressed as Santa’s elves, offering entertainment for all. Concessions will also be available near City Hall starting at 5 p.m.

“We had a wonderful response to this event last year and we look to make our Santa’s Workshop even bigger and better this year, so come and join us,” said Main Street director Nancy Idland.

Choir members from Antioch East Baptist Church will go caroling in Confederate Park beginning at 5:30 p.m. followed by the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at 6 p.m. with delightful holiday tunes for all to enjoy. The Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade will start rolling down Commerce St. at 6:30 p.m. Led by grand marshal Dr. L. Don Snellgrove, the festive event themed to “The Spirit of Christmas” will feature numerous lighted and decorated floats and cars representing local businesses, schools and civic clubs, area beauty queens, the Greenville High School Tiger Band, ROTC members, and more.

Santa will, of course, bring up the rear of Thursday night’s event, riding on top of the big fire engine.

On Saturday, Dec. 6, parade season moves to south Butler County. The town of McKenzie’s 10 a.m. parade will feature floats, four-wheelers, horses and buggies, beauty queens and more traversing its downtown area.

Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m., Georgiana’s streets will hum with activity as the Georgiana Panther Band along with more floats, vintage vehicles, and marching groups bring color, music – and lots of candy – to town.

And yes, busy man that he is, Santa promises to appear at all three of the parades.

In between the McKenzie and Georgiana parades, visitors are encouraged to flock to the Three Arts Club of Georgiana and Chapman’s Annual Christmas Bazaar, set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Lots of sweet and savory homemade baked goods, arts and crafts, Christmas ornaments, handmade throws and shawls and holiday décor items will all be offered at Rose Memorial Library in downtown Georgiana. And you can also stop in and share your Christmas wish list with Santa – he will be stopping in there, too!