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Tryon and Columbus kick off festivities Friday and Saturday

POLK COUNTy—Columbus and Tryon will kick off Polk County’s celebration of Christmas this year with a stroll in Tryon and a parade and Hometown Christmas celebration in Columbus this Friday and Saturday. 

Tryon’s Christmas Stroll will be held downtown on Friday, Dec. 6. 

Tryon’s stroll will include the hanging of the wreath on Morris with the Tryon Riding and Hunt Club at 5 p.m. and the tree lighting and Santa at St. Luke’s Plaza at 6 p.m. 

Columbus will have its celebration on Saturday, Dec. 7 with a parade beginning at 4 p.m. downtown. 

At 5 p.m., immediately following the parade, the Hometown Christmas will begin at Stearns Park, also downtown. There will be Christmas music and carolers, hot chocolate, mulled cider, candy canes, popcorn, a cookie decorating station, merchant gifts, a Christmas tree lighting, Christmas stories, a live nativity scene and pictures taken with Santa in the Gazebo. 

Santa’s mailbox has already been set up at Stearns Park for children’s letters. 

People are encouraged to bring non-perishable food donations for the needy, which will be collected by the Thermal Belt Outreach. 

Columbus’ Hometown Christmas and parade is sponsored by the Columbus Fire Department, the Town of Columbus and Discover Columbus. 

Tryon’s Christmas parade will be next Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 5 p.m. downtown.