The Douglas-Coffee County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce Sid Cottingham is the 2024 Grand Marshal for the 60th Annual Festival of Lights Christmas Parade. Come wave and enjoy the sights and sounds of the holidays as participants ride down Peterson Avenue on Friday, December 13 beginning at 7pm. “Celebrating 60 Years of Christmas in Coffee,” this year’s theme, comes from Everleigh Smith, daughter of Kasie Smith, of Broxton. The theme and grand marshal are chosen by the Chamber Board of Directors.
Sid Cottingham has worked behind the scenes for the past 45 years making Douglas and Coffee County the great place to live that it is today. A few, but certainly not all, of the things Cottingham has done for our area include forming the Douglas Downtown Development Authority which has had a significant impact on our community’s downtown. He has worked to bring in great industry partners like the Walmart Distribution Center and helped bring Pilgrim’s back to Douglas. As hospital attorney, Cottingham was able to assist in getting the administration of our hospital removed from Hospital Corporation of America and returned to what was known as private management so as to be here on our local level in the late 1980’s. He headed up the renovation and expansion of our Courthouse, new ag center, new library and renovation of the former jail. Cottingham worked with our Economic Development Authority in forming the Atkinson County-Coffee County Joint Development Authority and brought in a lot of development in our communities. Most recently, Cottingham has worked with community leaders in the planning and development of our Tax Allocation District, Douglas Square Shopping Center and Publix coming to Douglas. And most recently, worked with the Board of Education, the EDA, the City and the County in the long journey and dream of having a Longhorn Steakhouse become a reality.
The Festival of Lights, 60th Annual Christmas Parade begins at 7pm when the parade lights up Peterson Avenue and makes its way from the Chamber of Commerce building to South Georgia State College. Registration for the Christmas Parade will continue through December 4. Registration forms and rules can be found on the Visit Douglas-Coffee County GA Facebook page or picked up at the Douglas-Coffee County Chamber of Commerce located at 114 N. Peterson Avenue. Special thanks to our sponsors, we couldn’t do this without them. Our Nearly Famous Burger King, Vickers & Sons Specialties, Kinetic by Windstream; Smile Doctors, Douglas National Bank, Interstate Credit Union, First National Bank of Coffee County, GracePointe Church, Sunbelt Greenhouses, City of Douglas, and Next Era Energy. For more information about or for an application for the Festival of Lights Christmas Parade, please call (912)384-1873 or email us at schilders@douglasga.org
And don’t miss the annual tree lighting ceremony Thursday, December 5, at Atkinson Plaza. Mayor Tony Paulk will be there to light the giant tree Douglas First United Methodist Church Youth Choir and the Coffee High School Chorus will be singing Christmas Carols beginning at 5:30. There will be sweets and hot drinks available for purchase from Project Search Pop Up Coffee Shop. Plus Santa and his elves will be there for pictures and facepainting. Then explore the downtown shops as they stay open late and showcase their Christmas windows. The Christmas tree lighting ceremony is a delightful holiday event that brings together the community to celebrate the festive season. For more information about all the Christmas in Coffee activities, or to add your event to our calendar, please call (912)384-1873 or email us at chamber@douglasga.org