There will be trees, lights and gingerbread, sure, but what experience would make the holiday season truly complete like a horse-drawn carriage ride? Or, keep the crisp air and substitute the horse and carriage for a tractor and hay.
As part of the second-annual Christmas in the City, set for Thursday, Nov. 29, a copious count of Christmas-centric events will convene on the downtown and surrounding area. Among them will again be the horse-drawn carriage rides, as well as hay rides.
The Christmas in the City event is sponsored by the Clinton Main Street Program in partnership with the Clinton-Sampson Chamber of Commerce, the Sampson Arts Council, the Sampson Community Theatre, the Sampson County History Museum and the Sampson County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB).
It will be the Convention & Visitors Bureau hosting the carriage rides again this year. Vickie Crane, director of the CVB, said she is happy to be sponsoring the event.
“The Convention & Visitors Bureau is pleased to host the horse-drawn carriage rides again this year,” said Crane. “They were so popular last year that the Christmas in the City Committee added an additional horse and carriage for 2012 for a total of 23 rides. As of Wednesday, only five time slots are available for sale.”
Along with the rides, the Charles Dickens-themed “Christmas in the City” will feature a tree-lighting, carolers, an old-fashioned Christmas at the Sampson County History Museum and a visit from Santa Claus. The festivities will be held in downtown Clinton extending down Lisbon Street from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29.
Both the hay and horse-drawn carriage rides will depart from the Clinton City Market on Lisbon Street, running throughout the duration of the Nov. 29 festivities. From the Clinton City Market, the route will extend around the downtown and surrounding area before returning to Lisbon Street. Carriage rides were made possible by Larry Holland, while hay rides are being provided by Hubb’s Corn Maze.
“A few individuals who purchased tickets last year bought tickets again this year,” said Crane. “I can see this becoming a special Christmas holiday tradition. I expect the experience to be even more enjoyable this year as homeowners along the route have been notified and encouraged to decorate for the holiday.”
In an effort to add to the spirit and atmosphere of the evening, the Christmas in the City committee added the Christmas decorating contest for the residences and businesses located along the carriage and hay ride routes. Judging will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 28, with winners announced at the “Christmas in the City” event the next day.
The final tickets are being sold for the carriage rides, which cost $15 per person (4 people per carriage). For those who cannot get aboard a horse-drawn carriage, there will be plenty of tickets to be had for a tractor-drawn hay carriage. Tickets for hay rides are $2 per person and will be sold the night of the event.
“Nothing adds excitement and joy to the holiday season like a horse-drawn carriage ride,” said Crane. “It has been a pleasure to partner with the Christmas in the City Committee to offer this activity to kick off the Christmas holiday. I have no doubt a good time will be had by all that participate.”
For the full slate of events on tap at Christmas in the City, visit www.christmasinthecityclinton.com. TO inquire about horse-drawn carriage ride tickets, call Vickie Crane at 910-592-2557.
Chris Berendt can be reached at 910-592-8137 ext. 121 or via email at sicrime@heartlandpublications.com.
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