On Saturday, thousands of people participated in the annual "Ding Ding Dong" and "Chicken Lights" events in Gainesville. The lights officially begin Christmas.

People from northeastern Georgia and surrounding communities participated in the food, beverage, and shopping discounts on Gainesville Plaza. Participants also participated in free family activities, from photos with Santa Claus and Coca-Cola bears to carriage rides and hot cocoa, all activities were provided to everyone for free.

As the sun sets, the city is full of Christmas magic, from glowing trees and Christmas lights to snow falling from lamp posts. Once the city falls into darkness, it's time for the highlight: the chicken's light.

Gainesville is the poultry capital of the United States. To commemorate the chickens and workers who contributed to the city’s success, the city lit a 25-foot-tall metal chicken to replace a tree. This annual event is the favorite of the community and one of the most attended events this year.

Before lighting the chicken, Danny Dunagan, the mayor of Gainesville, addressed the crowd, thanking everyone for participating in the city's events. Dunagan said that this year's crowd may be the largest so far. After last year’s virtual lighting, citizens seemed very happy to be able to re-enjoy urban events and festival traditions.

The chickens will remain burning throughout the holiday, and visitors will be able to see chickens 25 feet tall in downtown Gainesville until the end of the year.

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Last updated on November 23, 2021, 10:55 PM Eastern Standard Time

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