Fort Mill is joining other communities in turning next Wednesday’s Veteran’s Day Ceremony and next month’s Christmas Parade into virtual events.
But there is still one thing that will remain in-person, with a twist: Santa Claus is still coming to Fort Mill. The Town is offering its first ever Trolley visit from Santa, who will be visiting neighborhoods throughout the Town on Saturday, Dec. 5 beginning at 10 a.m.
The route will be posted online prior to the event.
Here are news on all the other holiday events from Public Relations Manager Chris Sardelli:
Veteran’s Day: The Town will present a prerecorded virtual ceremony to honor our veterans who have served in the United States military. The ceremony will be available on the Town’s website (www.fortmillsc.gov), as well as its Facebook (@fortmillsc) and YouTube (fortmilltv) accounts. The community can access the video at any time beginning 8:30 a.m. that day and it will also be available to watch on Comporium Channel 115.
Fort Mill Mayor Guynn Savage will begin the ceremony with a welcome and introductory message, followed by several events hosted by American Legion Post 43, including the Posting of Colors, Rifle Volley and Taps. Retired Maj. S.C. Studley, U.S. Marine Corps., who is the Senior Naval Science Instructor at Catawba Ridge High School, will deliver this year’s Veterans Day address.
Several special guests will also participate in the ceremony, including the Nation Ford High School USMC JROTC delivering the Pledge of Allegiance, 10-year-old Keira O’Brien singing the National Anthem, and our South Carolina Strawberry Queens- Teen Sydney Miller, Miss Christina Fargalla and Ms. Amy Kim- who will explain the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs 2020 Theme and Poster.
Tree Lighting: The Tree Lighting Event will be prerecorded, but will feature the music and festivities that attendees look forward to, including school choirs, dance productions, our Strawberry Queens and the lighting of the Town’s Christmas Tree. There is even snow in the forecast! The video will be available to view beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 3.
Christmas Parade: Community groups are invited to submit a 30-second or less video showing off their holiday spirit. Entries will be combined to create the Town’s first Virtual Christmas Parade! Applications and Guidelines are available on the Town Website, www.fortmillsc.gov. The parade video will be posted beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5.
Christmas Cards in the Park: A walk-through, life-sized Christmas Card display in Veterans Park, 106 N. White Street, from Dec. 4 to 31. Artists for this event include the Fort Mill School District and community non-profit organizations.
Handbells in the Bandstand: Enjoy the beautiful sounds of First Baptist Fort Mill’s Handbell Choir while visiting local merchants on Saturday, Dec. 5, from 1 to 2 p.m. in the Bandstand on Main Street.
Christmas Cookie Crawl: Visit participating local shops and restaurants to get a free pre-packaged Christmas Cookie on Saturday, Dec. 12. The Town will provide Christmas Cookie tins to the first 50 participants that register.
Christmas Stories with the Queens: Our SC Strawberry Queens will read Christmas Stories in the Bandstand in Downtown Fort Mill on Saturday, Dec. 12 at several times: 1 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 3 p.m., 3:30 p.m.