Cooleemee Christmas Archives - Town of Cooleemee

Tag: Cooleemee Christmas

Cooleemee Celebrates the Season with a Joyous Christmas Parade and Old-Time Christmas

Posted on October 27, 2025October 27, 2025 by Jeanna White

The streets of Cooleemee will come alive with holiday spirit on Saturday, November 29, 2025, during the annual Cooleemee Christmas Parade and Old-Time Christmas Celebration! This beloved hometown tradition brings together friends, families, and neighbors to share in the joy and wonder of the season.

A Parade Full of Holiday Cheer

The fun begins at 4 p.m. as the parade steps off from Cooleemee Elementary School, featuring community groups, festive floats, classic cars, and cheerful participants spreading Christmas joy all along the route. The procession winds its way to the historic Zachary House, where the celebration continues. (If you would like to be part of the magic, plan to be at Cooleemee Elementary at 3 p.m. to join the parade lineup.)

Old-Time Christmas at the Zachary House

Following the parade, head over to the Zachary House for the Old-Time Christmas Celebration, hosted by the Cooleemee Historical Association (CHA), the Town of Cooleemee, and The Bridge Church. Enjoy an afternoon filled with holiday nostalgia, delicious treats, and activities for all ages.

Guests can look forward to:

A visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus
Readings of the Christmas Story and ’Twas the Night Before Christmas
Hot chocolate, cider, and desserts to keep everyone warm and merry

The Sweet Return of the Fudge Contest

Back by popular demand — the Cooleemee Fudge Contest! Originally introduced by retired Cooleemee Mayor John Chandler in the early 2000s, this tasty competition was revived last year and quickly became a crowd favorite once again.

Think your fudge is the best in town? All types and flavors are welcome!

Bring your entry to the Zachary House by 3 p.m. on November 29th to be part of the contest. Samples will be shared at the dessert table, and the winner will be announced during the Old-Time Christmas festivities. The champion will earn bragging rights and their name engraved on the official trophy!

For more information about the fudge contest, contact John Chandler at (336) 940-0848.

Experience the charm of an old-fashioned Cooleemee Christmas and make memories that will last a lifetime. These festive community events promise to fill your holiday season with warmth, joy, and hometown pride. Don’t miss out — mark your calendars and follow the Town of Cooleemee on Facebook for event updates!

Relive last year’s magic with these fabulous photos by KC Smith.

Cooleemee’s Old-Time Christmas Parade Brings Joy and Tradition Back

Posted on December 23, 2024December 23, 2024 by KC Smith

Cooleemee’s Old-Time Christmas and Parade came back to town while many enjoyed the festivities. Christmas candy was flying all over the street as children scampered around to grab what they could. Entries in the parade were filled with smiles and joyfulness as they gifted handfuls of candy to the visitors.

The Cooleemee Historical Association organized the event which included a fudge contest with 13 entries this year. Kathy Cook was so surprised she won because she stated she had never made fudge before. The Bridge Church located on Main Street was present again at the event handing out hot cocoa, candy, and more. Their involvement in any events held in Cooleemee always makes a huge difference and is greatly appreciated.

Pastor Justin Blue read the Christmas story from the Bible. The CHA made a lot of people happy by providing two fire pits to help warm up from the brisk cold air.
Women of the community baked homemade cakes that were sliced up for each person in line. A fresh cedar tree was cut and placed next to Mr. and Mrs. Claus which added to the ole time feel of Christmas.

*Mrs. Claus reading Twas the Night Before Christmas.*

Cedar trees were commonly cut down in the woods to supply families with a Christmas tree. Cooleemee’s First Baptist Church choir sang carols and it was wonderful to have a group of people spreading the joy of Christmas.

*(L to R) John Chandler, Teresa Bivins, Sandra Ferrell, Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, Candace Head, Heather Cline, and Daphne Beck*

A big thank you to the CHA for bringing back a tradition that many have missed. Several people stated they didn’t know Cooleemee had anything like this gathering and they were sure to be back next year.

First Baptist Church participated in the Cooleemee Christmas Parade on November 30th.

Feel free to contact me at cooleemeenews@gmail.com or call 336.250.1133; I would love to hear from you. Relive the magic with these fabulous photos by KC Smith.

Celebrate the Season: Festive Christmas Events in Cooleemee

Posted on November 18, 2024November 18, 2024 by Jeanna White

Looking for ways to get into the holiday spirit in Cooleemee? Mark your calendar for two exciting events filled with holiday cheer! From a cozy breakfast with Santa to a festive parade and a traditional holiday gathering, there’s something for everyone to enjoy this Christmas season.

Breakfast with Santa at the Cooleemee Fire Department

Date: November 23, 9–11 a.m.
Location: Cooleemee Fire Department, 174 Marginal Street

Kick off the holiday season with the Cooleemee Fire Department’s Breakfast with Santa! This special event is a wonderful opportunity for families to enjoy a morning filled with holiday activities and festive treats. Admission is an unopened toy to support the fire department’s toy drive for Western North Carolina, helping bring joy to families in need this Christmas. Toy donations will be accepted until the first week of December, so even if you can’t attend, feel free to stop by and drop off a toy.

Children can enjoy making Christmas crafts, writing letters to Santa, and, of course, meeting Santa himself! It’s a perfect way to get little ones excited for the holiday season while contributing to a good cause.

Cooleemee Christmas Parade

Date: November 30, 4 p.m.
Location: Starts at Cooleemee Elementary School, ending at the Zachary House

Get ready to watch the streets of Cooleemee come alive with holiday spirit at the annual Christmas Parade! Starting at Cooleemee Elementary School and winding its way to the historic Zachary House, this beloved tradition brings together friends, family, and neighbors to celebrate the season. If you would like to be part of the magic, plan to be at Cooleemee Elementary at 3 p.m. to join the parade lineup.

Old Time Christmas at the Zachary House

Immediately following the Cooleemee Christmas Parade

After the parade, head over to the Zachary House for Old Time Christmas, hosted by the Cooleemee Historical Association (CHA), Town of Cooleemee, and The Bridge Church. This classic Christmas celebration offers festive activities and delicious treats for all ages.

This year, the Cooleemee Historical Association (CHA) is reviving a cherished tradition: the fudge contest! “Everyone always loved it, and it’s exciting to bring it back this year,” shared former Cooleemee Mayor John Chandler, who served as mayor for an impressive 20 years before retiring in 2019. Chandler, who originally introduced the contest in the early 2000s, is thrilled to see its return, promising a sweet dose of nostalgia for the community

All types of fudge are welcome. Bring your entry to the Zachary House by 3 p.m. on November 30th to be included in the contest. The fudge will be served at the dessert table, and the winner will be announced during the Old Time Christmas celebration. The winner will receive bragging rights and their name engraved on the trophy. For more information, call John Chandler at (336) 940-0848.

Other activities will include:

A visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus
Readings of the Christmas Story and ’Twas the Night Before Christmas
Desserts, hot chocolate, and cider to keep you warm and cozy

Experience the charm of an old-fashioned Christmas and create memories that will last a lifetime. These festive events promise to fill your holiday season with joy and community spirit. Don’t miss out on this magical time of year in Cooleemee!

Follow the Town of Cooleemee on Facebook for updates!

Cooleemee’s Christmas Parade – December 17 at 2 p.m.

Posted on November 30, 2022December 12, 2022 by Cooleemee Admin

Cooleemee’s Christmas parade is back again this year. Come out on December 17th at 2 p.m. to join in the fun.

The lineup will begin at 1 p.m. at Cooleemee Elementary School, and everyone is welcome to participate; no pre-registration is required.

Pictures With Santa

After the parade, bring the kids to Zachary House at 131 Church Street in Cooleemee, NC 27014 for a visit and pictures with Santa! Pictures with Santa will be available after the parade if the weather permits.

Ole Time Christmas 2021

Posted on January 4, 2022 by KC Smith

How good it felt to hear the squeaky screen door of the Zachary House as kindergarten children from Cooleemee School entered to hear Christmas stories of long ago. December 3rd 2021, four classes enjoyed the Ole Time Christmas teachings sponsored by the CHA (Cooleemee Historical Association.)

This annual event is scheduled each year, but with the restrictions of COVID, several events were cancelled in the past few years so having the opportunity to begin again was good. The four classes were split up into two groups. Buses aren’t needed for transport to Church Street because it’s only about 2 blocks away with safety walking on the sidewalk.

The students were greeted with a warm welcome before starting their tour and were given a brief overview of what to expect during their visit. Antique toys were on display upstairs and they were allowed to gently touch and play with them. The young children were shocked to hear toys 100 years ago didn’t have batteries and that children their age had very few toys at all.

Oranges were very hard to come by in those days so it was very special to find one on Christmas morning as a gift. Nuts and additional candies were extra special. The cedar tree stood tall and grand as each child hung their handmade ornament and threw real pieces of cotton on the tree to resemble snow.

They were told their decorations made the tree very beautiful. The kindergarteners learned most households went into the woods to cut down a cedar tree for their families Christmas tree and drug it home. One child spoke up and said, “you could lay it down in the back’” they quickly learned they had to drag it home because they didn’t have a car. There was silence by all.

Bonnie Byerly taught the children how to roll an orange around on a table to make it juicy inside and then cut a hole in the side. By putting a peppermint stick in the hole you’ve made yourself a fresh homemade juice drink.

On their walk back to school, each carried a ‘poke’ with an orange, peppermint stick and candy inside. The CHA enjoys teaching children what it was like a long time ago in Cooleemee. Christmas time was a lot different back then. Young and old may not have had a lot but what they did have was enough to be happy sitting at a table having Christmas breakfast together.

May we all find time to enjoy special moments that money can’t buy like cutting a hole in an orange for a friend or family member, then hand them a peppermint stick for the straw.

Feel free to contact me at cooleemeenews@gmail.com or call, 336-250-1133. I would love to hear from you.