• The Clauses and the Grinch were on their best behavior.That’s Judy and Gene Weerts and Kayla Williams.
    The Clauses and the Grinch were on their best behavior.That’s Judy and Gene Weerts and Kayla Williams.
  • No better way to display the real meaning of Christmas.
    No better way to display the real meaning of Christmas.
  • Christmas in the Park
  • If you heard Christmas carols upon arriving at the Atlanta State Park’s Christmas drive through, thank the New Colony Baptist Church. Here’s a do-it-yourself.This snowman fell down. He’s for sale. Put him back up. Some assembly required.
    If you heard Christmas carols upon arriving at the Atlanta State Park’s Christmas drive through, thank the New Colony Baptist Church. Here’s a do-it-yourself.This snowman fell down. He’s for sale. Put him back up. Some assembly required.
  • Don’t look now but this is “Cousin Eddie” of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation ready to come visit you. Tell Jay and Lisa Stewart to stay at home.
    Don’t look now but this is “Cousin Eddie” of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation ready to come visit you. Tell Jay and Lisa Stewart to stay at home.
  • Their wave is well meant. Patrick and Pam Roberts of Ore City had one of the best Christmas scenes to welcome visitors to their camp site at the Atlanta State Park Christmas drive through.
    Their wave is well meant. Patrick and Pam Roberts of Ore City had one of the best Christmas scenes to welcome visitors to their camp site at the Atlanta State Park Christmas drive through.
  • Yes, it’s a living room scene, and James and Marla Armstrong of Hughes Springs are welcoming you. The dog is interested in you, too.
    Yes, it’s a living room scene, and James and Marla Armstrong of Hughes Springs are welcoming you. The dog is interested in you, too.
  • Who would have thought Santa had a girlfriend?
    Who would have thought Santa had a girlfriend?

Christmas in the Park

Atlanta State Park campers turned on lights from 69 campsites for two evenings last week to give the campers a chance to say “Merry Christmas” to as many as 3,000 people, according to park officials.

The evening was also a chance to entertain the public motorists driving out to the woods and lake.

And there were no primitive camps with tents, smoke and flashlights here. Instead, the mobile sites were ablaze with colored lights, plastic Santa Clauses, happy adults and entranced children.

The Dec. 12-13 occasion has been held for over 20 years as the park’s holiday drive-through, a time when campers get to camp free if they’ll decorate for the drivethrough.

Many visiting campers rolled into the park early Wednesday, with their packs and trunks filled with Christmas lighting.

“We counted the people in the cars as they drove through Friday and Saturday, and we estimate more than 3,000 came through,” said park customer service representative Kayla Williams.

The visitors got to see not only camp lights but also meet Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus, the Grinch and hear carols being sung by the New Colony Baptist Church.

As motorists drove through, camp site owners would talk to the slow-moving cars.

Not all was quiet in the park, however. Some music disturbed nature, but one could tell campers and visitors were having a peaceful, good time. The state park drivethrough is a winning experience.

And, finally, the evening concluded with a collection of canned foods in place of the usual park entrance fee. The food gifts were collected for Harvest Foods and Rebecca’s Pantry in Atlanta.