Chatham kicks off Christmas events

By Dawn Witter
Special to the Register & Bee
Published: December 4, 2008

The town of Chatham is set to hold a series of Christmas events this week by celebrating its roots with a peak back in time to the 1800s, when it was initially known as Competition.

The events began Thursday and will run through Saturday.

The kickoff took place at Shadetree Rare Book Gallery on South Main Street, which is playing host to a reception re-enacting Chatham’s first meeting.

Actors were dressed in full period costume Thursday to explain Chatham’s unique history as well as re-enact the arguments that essentially named the town Competition. Wine, punch and refreshments will be served throughout the reception and it is open to the public.

Chatham holds its illumination celebration on Friday evening. The public is welcome to come and take part in this very festive lighting of the town.

The lantern-lighting ceremony will be followed by the lighting of the Christmas tree and the festival of carols starting at 7 p.m.

The events then culminate in pipers leading the crowd through Competition Alley, an original road to the town Competition that dates back to 1813, and ends with the lighting of the Yule log. From 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., there will be a musical session at the Chatham Community Center.

On Saturday, vendors will open up at 8 a.m. at the community center, Rotary Park and North Main Street.

There will be a yard sale by the Animal Welfare League of Pittsylvania County. The Chatham First tent is having a Brunswick stew sale. There also will be an Oak Grove stocking stuffer donation box at the community center for those wishing to donate.

The Christmas Parade will begin at 11 a.m. on the north side of town and will parade down Main Street. At 12:30 p.m., there will be horse-drawn carriage rides of the old town areas of Competition and Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at the community center for pictures.

At 1 p.m., Kinney Rorrer will be performing old time music at the community center with the New North Carolina Ramblers followed by a performance from “The Church Sisters” at 2:45 p.m.

Festivities will end with a Medieval Christmas Mass in Latin with Gregorian chants at Emmanuel Episcopal Church.

For more information and a full schedule of events, visit http://www.chathamchristmas.com.