LAURINBURG — Santa came to town Sunday, along with a horse and carriage ride, free live entertainment and sweets galore, as Main Street was filled with people of all ages for the kickoff of Christmas on Main in Laurinburg.
“This is wonderful downtown, this is probably our second busiest day of the year, it brings Scotland County together,” said Chris English, executive director for the Laurinburg-Scotland County Area Chamber of Commerce. “It is one of the largest crowds I have seen at a Christmas on Main event.”
The Christmas decorations were top notch as ‘Tis the Season decorated many of the windows for the season. Decorated Christmas trees lined the sidewalks and each tree had a theme associated with the business that bought and decorated it.
Community fun was had by all as children went through tricycle obstacle courses and bouncy houses. Dressed up characters like Spiderman and Batman walked the streets to high five and take pictures with families. Shoppers discovered local businesses and resturaunts both new and old.
Co-owner of The Weeknd Warrior Trade Company, Harley Locklear, said the community event brought more local people to his business.
”This event downtown is very helpful within our community, we have seen different groups of people come in,” said Locklear. “This event has just brung people in who had never walked downtown and they stayed in Laurinburg over two years.”
Locklear said he has heard similar stories from many customers and thinks the future is bright for the event.
“If it continues, it only is going to help us grow not as one store but as a family downtown,” said Locklear.
In the Scotland County Arts Center, visitors could walk through and purchase natural honey and wax products as well as handmade arts and crafts.
“I love doing crafts and getting out in the public — I am retired and it gives me something to do,” said Valerie Lunceford, who owns Mimi’s Crafts, her home business in Hamlet. “The festival is fun and it helps to make a dollar or two while you are doing something you love.”
Local acts performed throughout the event with various church choirs singing Christmas hymns and pop songs. The Glamour gymnasts turned Main Street into their own practice space by showing off their flips, turns, and crowd awing flexibility on the rolled out practice pad. The Three Toe Cloggers spread cheer by clogging to pop Christmas tracks and the Crystal McInnis Dance group closed out the event with a 25-minute show with dances to Christmas tunes, hip-hop beats, and country hits.
Coordinator Terry Gallman said she was pleased with the turnout and credited ‘Tis the Season for giving the event some extra Christmas spirit.
“’Tis the Season really gave us a boost, there are a lot of people here, it is amazing,” said Gallman.
Jael Pembrick can be reached at 910-506-3169 or [email protected].
