Community Corner

Kennesaw, Cobb County Holiday Roundup of Events

Visit with Santa, listen to holiday music, watch "Miracle on 34th Street", join a 5K, see "Sanders Family Christmas" or "The Nutcracker", enjoy a tea, tour historic homes, get out to a parade, snow tubing and petting zoo, and more.


Open House Showcases Kennesaw Heritage, Dec. 6 and 7

Kennesaw’s history and heritage will be the focus of a holiday Christmas Heritage Open House on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6 and 7. 

The event, an initiative of the city’s Recreation and Culture Commission, will be held in the historic Community House at 2838 Big Shanty Road adjacent to the Southern Museum.

The hours of operation are Friday, 6-9 p.m. and Saturday, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Holiday Pops with the Georgia Symphony Orchestra, Dec. 7

Join the Georgia Symphony Orchestra for their annual holiday spectacular. This year’s program will include Rutter’s stunning Magnificat, Many Moods of Christmas Suite, excerpts from the Nutcracker Suite, Sleigh Ride, and more. The event takes place Dec. 7 at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. at Murray Arts Center in Kennesaw.

A Christmas Tradition at the Strand Theatre, Dec. 6 through Dec. 22

During the first three weekends of December, The Strand will produce its biggest and most elaborate show yet, A Christmas Tradition. 

Songs spotlighted include Christmas and holiday classics like White Christmas, Santa Baby and All I Want for Christmas Is You, as well as funky favorites like Leroy the Redneck Reindeer, Feliz Navidad and Run, Rudolph Run. 

A Christmas Tradition will feature a pre-show holiday sing along with Ron Carter on the Mighty Allen Theatre Organ. The organ pre-show will begin half an hour before showtime.

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Friday, Dec. 6 at 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 7 at 8 p.m., Sunday Dec. 8 at 3 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 12 at 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 13 at 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 14 at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 15 at 3 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 19 at 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 20 at 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 21 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 22 at 3 p.m.

The Nutcracker at the Cobb Civic Center

The Georgia Ballet’s all-new production of “The Nutcracker” choreographed by Alexandre Proia runs Dec. 6 through Dec. 8 at the Jennie T. Anderson Theatre at Cobb Civic Center and tickets are on sale now. The Celebrity Nutcracker performance will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 8. To purchase tickets or for more information, call The Georgia Ballet box office at 770.528.0881 or visit georgiaballet.org.

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Kennesaw Santa Day: Parade, Snow Tubing, Tree Lighting, Crafts, Petting Zoo, Dec. 7

The City of Kennesaw will celebrate the start of the Christmas holiday season with a parade, entertainment and tree lighting in downtown at Depot Park, 2828 Cherokee Street, on Saturday, Dec. 7.

The festivities begin at noon with a parade on Main Street featuring costumed characters, designer floats, marching bands and live reindeer pulling Santa’s sleigh. 

The entertainment will continue with live music and dance performances, a seasonal variety of food vendors, crafts, gift and general merchandise. 

Festivities will conclude with a Christmas tree lighting program at 5 p.m

Polar Express Adventure, Dec. 7

The Polar Express Adventure embarks at the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History on Saturday, Dec. 7 from 6 to 10 p.m. following the City of Kennesaw’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Depot Park.  

Upon entering the Museum, attendees will meet a train conductor and a hobo, have the opportunity to create holiday crafts, and watch elves make toys in their holiday shop in the Glover Machine Works exhibit. They will also be invited to write a letter to Santa and meet the jolly fellow himself during the evening. A holiday-themed model train layout will be on display during the event.

27th Annual Marietta Pilgrimage Christmas Home Tour, Dec. 6, 7 and 8

The Marietta Pilgrimage Christmas Home Tour features six private historic homes in the Northwest Marietta/Kennesaw Avenue Historic District filled with antique collections and decorated for the season. Along the route, many of Marietta’s historic public buildings are decorated and open for touring. 

The activities begin on Friday, Dec. 6 with “The Marietta Pilgrimage Gala,” a black-tie party at the Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art.  The home tours kick-off on Saturday, Dec. 7 with the Day Tour offered from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.and a Candlelight Tour featuring three of the tour homes from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday evening.  

The Day Tour will resume on Sunday, Dec. 8 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The day tours offer shuttle service staffed with informative step-on guides.  Along the tour, guests can warm up and enjoy refreshments or a light lunch at The Bistro.  The Marietta Educational Garden Center will feature The Bistro this year. 

St. Catherine of Siena Handbell Choir, Dec. 8 and Dec. 22

St. Catherine of Siena Roman Catholic Church in Kennesaw will have their Handbell Choir performance in Glover Park on Marietta Square on Dec. 8 and Dec. 22, 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Visit with Santa on Marietta Square, Dec. 7, 8, 14, 15 and 19-24

Santa will be on Marietta Square Dec. 7 and 8, 14 and 15, and 19-24. 

  • Saturday, December 7: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sunday, December 8: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
  • Saturday, December 14: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sunday, December 15: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
  • Thursday, December 19: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Friday, December 20: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Saturday, December 21: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sunday, December 22: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Monday, December 23: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Tuesday, December 24: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Christmas Royal Tea and Grand Yuletide BallSaturday afternoons in December, Strand Theatre

Treat that special starry-eyed child in your life to an afternoon of “RoyalTEA” this holiday season at The Strand. 

You and your prince or princess will start the evening with Christmas royals Prince Goodtidings and Princess Joy at the The Strand’s fourth floor banquet chamber for High Tea. High Tea will include the juice or tea of your choice and a plate of sweets for the sweet. Afterwards, guests are invited to retire to the second floor minstrel’s hall where the Prince and Princess will teach young guests a few simple royal dances at the Grand Yuletide Ball.

Children (and their guests, too!) are encouraged to dress up for the special occasion. Ticket includes a gift bag of goodies for young guests that includes an autograph book to commemorate the afternoon with Christmas Royalty and new friends. Tickets are $15 for children and adults. 

Prince Goodtidings and Princess Joy will begin receiving guests at 12:30 p.m. for the 1 p.m. tea. Festivities will end at 2:30 p.m. This event will be held Saturday Dec. 7, Dec. 14 and Dec. 21.

Sanders Family Christmas, Dec. 13-22

The Sanctified Sanders Family Singers return to Marietta Square to celebrate the holidays with faith, family and old-fashioned fun. Sanders Family Christmasstarring the original Theatre in the Square cast, plays Dec. 13-22, at First United Methodist Church of Marietta’s Family Life Hall (56 Whitlock Ave., Marietta). Visit www.AtlantaLyricTheatre.com for reservations and information.

Elf Trot 5K, Dec. 14

The final Kennesaw Grand Prix 5K race in the series on a USATF-certified course begins and ends in downtown Kennesaw on Saturday, December 14, 2013, at 7:30 a.m. Benefiting the Brain Tumor Foundation for Children. Visit www.elftrot.com for more information, you can register at www.actice.com.

Miracle on 34th Street at the Strand Theatre, Dec. 15

Miracle on 34th Street is a 1947 Christmas classic starring Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, Natalie Wood, and Edmund Gwenn. It is the heartwarming story of what takes place in New York City following Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, as people are left wondering whether or not a department store Santa might be the real thing. Miracle on 34th Street embodies the true Christmas spirit of love and compassion. Get here half an hour early for a holiday preshow and sing along on the Mighty Allen Theatre Organ. Tickets are general admission, $8 for adults and $7 for seniors, students, and military.

Charlie Brown Christmas Show: Featuring Jeffrey Bützer and T. T. Mahony, Wednesday Dec. 18, Strand Theatre

Jeffrey Bützer and T.T. Mahony present a jazzy musical tribute to Vince Guaraldi’s A Charlie Brown Christmas. Bützer and Mahony will be playing the whimsical Christmas songs that Charlie Brown and the gang have made favorites for the holiday season. 

Opening the show will be Bützer’s “regular gig,” Jeffrey Bützer and the Bicycle Eaters, followed by Chad Shivers and the Silent Knights and their Beach Boys Christmas Tribute. 

It’s a Wonderful Life Marathon at the Strand Theatre, Monday, Dec. 23

Take a break from your last minute holiday shopping and remember the importance of family and compassion with It’s a Wonderful Life. In this true holiday classic, an angel (Henry Travers) helps a compassionate but despairingly frustrated businessman (James Stewart) by showing what life would have been like if he never existed. Get here half an hour early for a holiday preshow and sing along on the Mighty Allen Theatre Organ. Tickets are general admission, $8 for adults and $7 for seniors, students, and military.



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