28th Annual
Rutledge Christmas Open House
"Christmas in the Country "
It’s beginning to look a lot like “Christmas in the Country” as the quaint village of Rutledge Georgia prepares for its 28th annual Christmas Open House November 16th – 18th 2007. Celebrating 28 years of Christmas in the Country!
Participants in and around Rutledge are trimming their trees and decorating their shops with lovely old-fashioned decorations. They look beautiful against the backdrop of the restored 1890’s buildings filled with artists and craftsmen, antiques and gifts.
Downtown participants will include Barn Raising Antiques, celebrating its 28thyear of business in Rutledge with a unique selection of antiques, primitives and collectibles. “Yesterday’s Café” serves delicious meals from breakfast through lunch. The “Caboose” offers homemade soups, sandwiches, candy and ice cream all day and into the evening hours. See Molly Lesnikowski at the Red Doors Studio next door for a nice selection of hand painted floor cloths, place mats and Folk Art. D’Antiques, whose antiques shop was new to Rutledge last year, has added an antique mall with many dealers this year providing a wide assortment of interesting antiques and collectibles. J & K Fleas An’tiques will join in this year with a wide range of antiques and collectibles, focusing on early-to-mid 20thcentury items. Rockland Florist in Rutledge also new to us last year is open year round, ready to serve all your floral needs. Rutledge Hardware Co. in continuous operation since the late 1800s is here to fill all your hardware needs and is really something to see with its original fixtures, displays, even some of its original inventory displayed in the old glass counters that line the store front. Be sure to say hello to “Mary Jane” our most famous resident when you stop by the hardware store but please do not tell her she is a cat!
New to us this year, Rutledge welcomes Dr. Michael D. Hughes, D.C. as an Open House participant. Dr. Hughes opened his “Back To Wellness” Clinic in downtown Rutledge at 113 Fairplay Street in October of this year. Dr. Hughes and his staff will offer a variety of services such as Chiropractic Care, licensed massage therapists and nutritional counseling. In the same building you will find his “Back To Wellness” retail shop and studio. Here services will include Yoga, Pilates and Martial Arts for all ages. Dr. Hughes is also owner of the Burson Clinic in Monroe, but has decided to be in Rutledge himself, five days a week by appointment.
In addition to the downtown shops and restaurants, there will be artists and crafters in the city park with booths filled with many hand-made delights (weather permitting). Contact Molly at the Red Doors for craft booth rental info 706-557-9020/9021.
Look for the North Pole at City Hall (the old depot bldg. right next to the RR tracts) where you will find Santa and Mrs. Claus. A photographer will be on duty if you wish to have your picture made with Santa. Santa hours are Saturday 9 am – 3 pm and Sunday 12 noon – 4 pm.
Just outside of town, Outlying Participants will include Shades of Country by Mary Sue Alexander, Social Circle Christian School Christmas Bazaar and The Rutledge Inn Bed and Breakfast.
Social Circle Christian School at First Baptist Church will have a Christmas Bazaar not far from downtown Rutledge at a new location this year. It will be held at Centennial Baptist Church located at 5321 Brownwood Road, Rutledge (just across I-20 from downtown Rutledge). Follow the signs from town. The Bazaar will be open on Saturday only, November 17thfrom 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., and will include a variety of shops, food and entertainment. There will be an Auction at 11:00 a.m. with many wonderful items donated from businesses throughout our local community.
In the same direction as the Bazaar, signs from downtown will lead you on to Mary Sue Alexander’s home on Durden Road. Always a favorite, she plays host to you in her wonderful house of handmade crafts, Shades of Country. Mary Sue is a crafter who will open her home on this very special weekend to showcase and sell the handmade gifts she has been preparing for the season.
Back with us again this year, Dina and Pierre Glardon would like to welcome you back to The Rutledge Inn, a charming Bed & Breakfast located at 189 West Main Street just a few doors down from the city park on the left.
As always many of the downtown shops will be serving holiday refreshments for your delight. On Saturday and Sunday Gentle Giant Carriage Co. will have a horse and carriage available next to the city park for hire to take old fashioned carriage rides through the downtown area. There will be live entertainment at different times throughout the weekend in the city park and on Saturday at the Social Circle Christian School Bazaar.
On Sunday, Georgia author Sy Alexander will hold a book signing at Barn Raising antiques located at 118 Fairplay Street where she will be signing and giving readings from her latest release “Pinksta & The Polka Dotted Pinstriped Pants Wearing Princess”.
Come and join in Rutledge’s celebration of the holidays with their delightful “CHRISTMAS IN THE COUNTRY” Open House, the perfect way to kick off this Holiday season and get into the Holiday Spirit!
There is no admission fee to this event and Parking is free.
Hours are Friday November 16th 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday the 17th 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday the 18th noon – 5 p.m. For more information contact Pam Jones between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday at (706) 557-2956.
Come join Rutledge in celebration their delightful "Christmas in the Country " Open House, the perfect way to kick off this Holiday season and get into the Holiday Spirit!