(Greensboro, Ga. – November 19, 2012)  Greensboro’s Christmas season will include a wonderful afternoon tea experience at the Potted Geranium Tea Parlor in historic downtown Greensboro on Friday, November 30.

A visit to the Potted Geranium for Christmas Tea is just the thing to get your holiday season off to a beautiful start!  With seatings from 3 pm until 5 pm, Christmas Tea is the perfect opportunity to share the warmth of the season with friends and family.  Christmas Tea will feature the very first taste of the tea room’s new holiday menu.  The tiered tea tray will be filled with miniature pastries, finger sandwiches, and the Potted Geranium’s famous currant scones with clotted cream and preserves.  You will also enjoy your choice of hot tea and the tea house’s signature Cranberry Champagne cocktail. 

The Potted Geranium Tea Parlor occupies a historic Victorian home on Greene Street in downtown Greensboro.  Holiday decorations, soft music, and beautiful bone china set a festive, yet relaxing atmosphere for you to enjoy.

After afternoon tea, continue your visit to downtown Greensboro with the Festival Walk Grand Opening, Downtown Greensboro Tree Lighting celebration and Christmas shopping later that evening.  A complete listing of holiday events in Greensboro is available online at www.greensboroholiday.com.

Reservations for tea are required and seating is limited, so please reserve your place early.  Christmas Tea service is offered for the all-inclusive price of $42.50.  Contact the Potted Geranium at (706) 453-4979 for reservations or additional information.

The Potted Geranium for The Potted Geranium is rated as Georgia’s #1 tea room and was recently featured in Southern Living Magazine. 

Greensboro begins preparations for holiday season celebrations

(Greensboro, Ga. – November 12, 2012)  Downtown Greensboro kicked off its holiday season with the downtown merchant’s Holiday Open House, Saturday, November 10. Greensboro’s friendly merchants are ready to help you get all of your holiday shopping done this season – without the hectic traffic and crowds of your typical shopping mall.  Shoppers can take advantage of extended holiday shopping hours on Friday and Saturday evenings throughout the season.

From now until December 21, downtown shoppers can register for a chance to win one of several Greensboro Bucks provided by the Greensboro Business Association.  Shoppers are registered for the drawing each time they make a qualifying purchase at a participating downtown business.  The winners will be selected throughout the season, starting with the Tree Lighting on November 30.

Everyone is invited to the annual Downtown Tree Lighting on November 30. The tree lighting celebration will take place in Downtown Greensboro on the Courthouse Lawn from 6-8 pm following the Festival Walk Grand Opening at 5pm. This is an evening of music, food, and holiday fun. It is rumored that Santa will be in town for pictures. Children, be sure to bring your wish list to historic Downtown Greensboro to give Santa in person.

There will be an old fashioned hay ride through town and your favorite holiday tunes sung ‘round the tree!  Local organizations and non-profits are encouraged to participate in the event.  Your organization is invited to take this opportunity to fundraise with goodies such as hot chocolate, baked goods, hot apple cider, candied apples, and other holiday favorites.  Choirs and choral groups are invited to carol the historic downtown throughout the evening.  To register an organization, choir, or choral group, please contact the Better Hometown office at (706) 453-7674.

Keep an eye on your local news or check out the new Greensboro Holiday website at www.GreensboroHoliday.com for additional details as Greensboro’s Holiday Plans progress and don’t forget to Shop Greensboro First this holiday season!

In cooperation with Greensboro Better Hometown and local merchants, the Greensboro Council Knights of Columbus is presenting a unique opportunity to honor a loved one and support your community.   

For a sponsorship of $5, you can “light a light” on this year’s “Tree of Love” Christmas Tree and remember a loved one while supporting several Greensboro charities.

Your sponsorship of $5.00 (or more) will help support the Greene County Special Olympics, the Greene County Christmas Stocking Fund, and the Greene County Food Pantry.    Plus your name or the name of a loved one will be listed on the "Tree of Love" sign placed next to the Greensboro Christmas tree when it is lit on Nov. 30. 

The Tree of Love list of names will also be posted on the Greensboro Better Hometown website as well as the Knights of Columbus, Greensboro Council, website.   

“The needs of those less fortunate in our community are always great, but the tree that we light each December is a special reminder to be charitable to each other, and especially to those in need,” said Knights of Columbus member Bill Richards.

To “light a light” on the Tree of Love Christmas Tree, visit a Greensboro Merchant or contact Bill Richards at bill.richards@gcsu.edu or (706) 485-9043.

The downtown businesses will kick off the season with the Merchant’s Holiday Open House on November 10.  Get a head start on your shopping in Lake Oconee’s Hometown. Expect to find complimentary gift-wrap, hot cider, and other surprises to make your shopping experience more enjoyable. You will not want to miss the great items our local stores will have to share.

The search is on for the perfect tree to help Downtown Greensboro celebrate the holidays.  City leaders and downtown business owners are looking for a tree that will serve as the town tree this holiday season.

“In the past, Greensboro has been fortunate to have a tree donated from someone in the community,” explains Better Hometown Event Coordinator, Kendrick Harris.  “The tree serves as the centerpiece for all of our holiday activities in downtown and helps to create a festive mood during the Christmas shopping season.” 

Greensboro’s tree is typically a fresh cut evergreen.  Past trees have ranged from 20 to 30 feet in height.  The selected tree will stand on the Court House Lawn in historic Greensboro throughout the holiday season.  Organizers hope to have the tree in place by late November.  To suggest or offer a tree, please contact Kendrick Harris at the Greensboro Better Hometown Office at (706) 453-7674.

The Downtown Tree Lighting celebration will take place from 5-7 pm on the evening of Friday, November 30.  Mark your calendars!  Santa will be available for children to visit, there will be an old-fashioned hay ride through town, and your favorite holiday tunes will be sung ‘round the tree!  Come early and enjoy “Soups & Sammies” by Washington Grass Inn while local choirs and choral groups preform throughout the evening.

Local organizations and non-profits are invited to participate in the event by offering winter goodies such as hot chocolate, baked goods, or other holiday favorites.  Choirs and choral groups are invited to carol the historic downtown throughout the evening.  To register your organization, please contact the Better Hometown office at (706) 453-7674.

            Downtown Greensboro invites you to join us for fun and excitement in Lake Oconee’s Hometown throughout the fall and holiday seasons.  For more information about downtown Greensboro or for upcoming event information call (706) 453-7674 or visit www.downtowngreensboroga.com.

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