The shift from festivities full of family fun and pumpkin pie to the demand of finals and returning to work can be bleak for many Athens residents. However, the transition into hot cocoa, dazzling decor and holiday cheer saves many from the holiday slump.

While Athens already has lights displayed down Broad and Clayton Street, there will be a merry display of holiday lights during the annual Athens-Clarke County Downtown Parade of Lights on Dec. 7. The celebration is free and will consist of dozens of decorated floats.

The parade begins at 7 p.m. and will start its route on the corner of Hancock Avenue and Pulaski Street, winding through downtown and culminating around City Hall at the site of the community Christmas tree.

There will be an official tree lighting ceremony to conclude the parade, hosted by Santa Claus himself, according to a press release. Once the ceremony commences, the floats will be judged according to the criteria and theme following the tree lighting. Awards will also be given based on originality, theme and use of lights. There will be a “Mayor’s Award,” presented to the best overall float.

The parade is presented by the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government and the Athens Downtown Development Authority, with local artist Harold Rittenberry, Jr. serving as the 2023 Parade Marshal. This year’s parade theme is “An Art Filled Holiday.”

Rittenberry is famous in the community for his whimsical metal sculptures and focuses on local scenes and subjects. It’s only fitting that an artist is overseeing the art-themed parade.

If you want to avoid the post-Thanksgiving blues and kickstart your holiday joy, come downtown next Thursday and enjoy the cheerful parade.