The 2026 holiday calendar
Mini Poplar Bark Basketmaking for Christmas Ornaments
Organizer date for 2026A seasonal workshop at Foxfire with The Primitive Arts' Andrew Lee. Participants fold tree bark into miniature poplar-bark baskets to use as Christmas ornaments. The class costs $80.
Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, 10 AM-1 PM, per Foxfire's events calendar.
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Source: Foxfire: Events calendar, checked 2026-10-18
Black Friday Hike at Tallulah Gorge
Organizer date for 2026Skip the shopping crowds and walk the 1.5-mile Inspiration Loop Trail with a ranger. The same afternoon (4-4:30 PM) the park offers a Black Bears 101 talk in the Interpretive Center.
Friday, Nov. 27, 2026, per the Georgia State Parks event calendar.
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Source: Georgia State Parks event calendar: Tallulah Gorge State Park, checked 2026-10-18
Clayton Christmas Parade
Organizer date for 2026Clayton's annual nighttime Christmas Parade. The 2026 theme salutes America's 250th: an early-American Christmas honoring the Founding Fathers, with strings of popcorn, paper chains, cranberry garland, and fife and drum. Groups can enter a float; the entry deadline is Nov. 30, with applications online or at City Hall.
Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026 at 6 PM, per the City of Clayton's "Save the date for the Annual Christmas Parade" post (Oct. 13, 2026). Information: 706-782-4512 or info@cityofclaytonga.gov. The 2025 parade was co-hosted with the Rabun County Chamber of Commerce; the 2026 post names only the City.
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Source: City of Clayton: Save the date for the Annual Christmas Parade, checked 2026-10-18
Christmas at the Gorge
Organizer date for 2026The park's holiday afternoon: crafts, Christmas music, a visit with Santa, a snack and a hayride. It is the same day as Clayton's evening Christmas Parade. The park parking fee applies.
Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026, 1-3 PM, per the Georgia State Parks event page, which also lists Dec. 4, 2027.
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Source: Georgia State Parks event calendar: Christmas At The Gorge, checked 2026-10-18
Downtown Clayton Cookie Crawl
Organizer date for 2026An evening holiday stroll on Main Street. Participating downtown businesses hand out holiday treats while shoppers browse. The CMBA has not published a list of participating shops for 2026.
Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026, 5-7 PM, per the CMBA's 2026 events calendar.
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Source: CMBA (visitclaytonga.net): CMBA 2026 Events in Downtown Clayton, checked 2026-10-18
Sunset Candy Cane Hunt
Organizer date for 2026A candy cane hunt at sunset, followed by a holiday movie, s'mores and hot chocolate. Call the park office to sign up. The park parking fee applies.
Saturday, Dec. 12, 2026, 5-7 PM, per the Georgia State Parks event page. The park office number is 706-754-7981.
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Source: Georgia State Parks event calendar: Sunset Candy Cane Hunt, checked 2026-10-18
Downtown Christmas Candle Lighting
Date not yet announced. The City's Oct. 13, 2026 parade post does not mention a candle lighting. The Clayton Tribune (Dec. 14, 2023) reported that the 2023 lighting followed the parade.The downtown Christmas candle is a replica 18-19 feet tall. Before 1987 the original hung at the main intersection, and the replica returned in 2022. In 2023 it was lit after the Christmas Parade. No 2026 lighting has been announced.
Source: The Clayton Tribune, Dec. 14, 2023; The Clayton Tribune, Dec. 22, 2022, checked 2026-10-18
The parade and the candle
- Clayton's annual Christmas Parade is hosted by the City of Clayton and the Rabun County Chamber of Commerce. The 2025 parade was on Dec. 6 at 5:30 p.m., with a Christmas-movies theme. City of Clayton: "Christmas Parade – Dec 6th, 5:30pm" (Nov. 20, 2025)
- In 2023 Clayton followed its nighttime Christmas Parade with the lighting of the large candle downtown, as reported by The Clayton Tribune. The Clayton Tribune, "Clayton nighttime parade energizes downtown crowd," Dec. 14, 2023
- Downtown Clayton's Christmas candle, a replica 18 to 19 feet tall and weighing about 200 pounds, returned in 2022. The original was hung every holiday season at the main intersection downtown until 1987, when a change to the traffic signal ended the practice. The Clayton Tribune, "Shining a light on history during Christmas Season," Dec. 22, 2022
Shopping nights
- The Clayton Merchants & Business Association (CMBA) publishes visitclaytonga.net and hosts downtown's annual street events. Its 2026 calendar listed two Block Parties, Ramshackle, Halloween and the December Cookie Crawl, all on Main Street. Clayton Merchants & Business Association: CMBA 2026 Events in Downtown Clayton
- Rabun County's civic venues are in downtown Clayton, within easy walking distance of many restaurants and stores. The Of These Mountains MarketPlace uses the lawn and pavilions of the Rabun County Civic Center at 201 W Savannah St each spring and fall. Of These Mountains: OTM MarketPlace; Rabun County Government Civic page (archived copy, 2026)
Questions
When is the Clayton Christmas Parade in 2026?
The 2026 Clayton Christmas Parade is Saturday, Dec. 5, at 6 p.m. in downtown Clayton, according to the City. This year's theme is an early-American Christmas honoring the Founding Fathers for America's 250th. Groups can enter a float through Nov. 30, with applications online or at City Hall. For details call (706) 782-4512.
Source: City of Clayton: Save the date for the Annual Christmas Parade (Oct. 13, 2026)
What is the downtown Clayton Cookie Crawl?
The Cookie Crawl is an evening holiday stroll on Main Street. Participating downtown businesses hand out holiday treats while shoppers browse. In 2026 it is Saturday, Dec. 12, from 5 to 7 p.m., according to the Clayton Merchants & Business Association. The CMBA has not yet published which shops are taking part.
What is the giant candle in downtown Clayton?
It is Clayton's Christmas candle, a holiday landmark. The original hung at the main downtown intersection every season until 1987, when a change to the traffic signal ended the practice. A replica 18 to 19 feet tall and weighing about 200 pounds came back in 2022. In 2023 it was lit after the Christmas Parade.
Source: The Clayton Tribune, Dec. 22, 2022 and Dec. 14, 2023
What events are in downtown Clayton this fall?
Fall 2026 brings the Halloween Parade and Trick-or-Treating on Oct. 31 and the free Of These Mountains Fall MarketPlace on Nov. 7 at the Civic Center pavilions on West Savannah Street. The Christmas Parade is Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. and the Cookie Crawl is Dec. 12. The Northeast Georgia Arts Tour runs Nov. 6-8.
Source: CMBA; Of These Mountains; City of Clayton; Northeast Georgia Arts Tour
What is the Of These Mountains MarketPlace?
It is a free outdoor market of more than 100 artisans, makers, vendors and small businesses, held each spring and fall on the Rabun County Civic Center lawn and pavilions at 201 W Savannah St. The fall 2026 MarketPlace is Saturday, Nov. 7, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The spring 2027 date has not been announced.
Dates, rules and hours can change. The organizers have the final word: City of Clayton
