Downtown LaGrange will be aglow tonight as the LaGrange Christmas Parade depicts “Christmas around the World.” The annual parade, sponsored by the LaGrange/Troup Chamber of Commerce, is the traditional kickoff of the Christmas season here. In addition to celebrating the season and honoring grand marshal Charles Smith, this year’s event heralds in a heartening array of upcoming religious observances, cultural events and community celebrations.

This weekend alone our community will be filled with worship, music and civic observances - with multiple public events in addition to seasonal observances planned by individual churches, schools and groups.

Musical events include Christmas concerts by the crowd-pleasing Sons of Lafayette male chorus Friday and Saturday at First Presbyterian Church. On Sunday, LaGrange College hosts its annual Festivals of Lessons and Carols, presented free as a gift to the community and featuring the splendid LC Chorus and other musicians at Callaway Auditorium.

The LaGrange Ballet production of The Nutcracker runs Friday-Sunday at Troup High School’s fine arts auditorium, with a special “back story” adding to the traditional scenes. LaGrange Woman’s Club marks its 100th anniversary with free open houses Friday and Saturday at Bellevue, beautifully decked out in Victorian-style Christmas decorations.

One very meaningful local tradition - the Nativity exhibit at First United Methodist Church - is expanding to include five churches. Beginning Sunday and continuing through Dec. 14, hundreds of nativities and religious artwork from around the world will be on view at First Methodist, Advent Lutheran, Broad Street Church of Christ, St. Mark’s Episcopal and St. Peter’s Catholic churches. Times for the free exhibits are noon to 8 p.m. Sundays and Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m. weekdays.

A similar Nativity event is planned by Hogansville’s First United Methodist Church Saturday and Sunday

Also Sunday, the annual Christmas Tour of Homes to benefit Hospice LaGrange is planned, with tours leaving from Hills and Dales Estate Visitor Center.

In Hogansville, a full lineup of Saturday events precedes and follows the 6 p.m Christmas parade. Other festivities include a holiday bazaar, Winter Fest, car show for Toys for Tots and Christmas singalong and concert.

Many more events are scheduled in the remaining days of December. Addresses and times for each event are available on our community calendar, in print and on-line.

The abundance of Christmas observances reminds us of the goodness and richness of the season - a spirit of goodwill that transcends our economic troubles and requires no expenditure at all, save the giving of love.