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This weekend brings a plethora of events to keep everyone busy in Troup County.

On Thursday, LSPA’s Lafayette Ballet Company kicked off its opening night of “The Nutcracker.” The performance will have six show times until Dec. 6, 2020, at Troup High School Fine Arts Auditorium, located at 1920 Hamilton Road in LaGrange.

This is the 37th annual performance of “The Nutcracker” by Lafayette Ballet Company (LBC).

“The Nutcracker” is a two-act ballet adapted from E.T.A. Hoffmann’s 1816 Christmas story, “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.”

Adapted in 1892 for the stage, Tchaikovsky’s score is choreographed by LCB’s Artistic Director, Amy Orr.

“While this year has certainly been challenging, our goal, like every year, is to bring people joy and peace,” Orr said in a press release. “We hope when people enter the theater, and the music fades in and the lights dim, they’re able to escape to a place of familiarity and comfort.”

A press release from LSPA said the show is performed by LBC dancers of all ages, backgrounds and skill sets. It noted that the diverse cast, elaborate costumes and whimsical set make “The Nutcracker” an exciting, fantastical Christmas tradition.

“Because we’re a smaller ballet company, we’re able to pivot, make adjustments, and the show, and the tradition, may continue,” Orr said. “With many larger organizations, unable to do that and continue performing, we feel it’s almost our responsibility to the community to provide the arts as an outlet. We’re so grateful to do just that.”

Tickets for “The Nutcracker can be purchased by calling LSPA’s ticket office at (706) 882-9909 during business hours. The cost for tickets is as follows: premium seating ($23 adults/$13 students); and general seating ($17 adults/$11 students). Box office hours of operation are Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Distanced seating will be provided, as well as seating pods to maximize the safe use of the theater’s seating capacity. Masks are required of all theater attendees, excluding performers on stage.

On Saturday, the city of Hogansville is hosting its annual Christmas parade.

The “Christmas in Toyland” parade will be Saturday, Dec. 5, beginning at 6 p.m. Like years past, the parade will begin at Hogansville Elementary School and travel down Main Street.

“We are going to ask everybody to do as much socially distance separation as they possibly can as they are watching the parade go by,” said City Manager Jonathan Lynn. “We highly encourage everyone to mask up that night.”

Hogansville will begin Christmas festivities at noon on Saturday with a Christmas bazaar at Calvin Hipp Park.

“We are going to have a DJ and craft vendors,” Lynn said. “It’ll be very small scale, and we will limit it to under 15 vendors. We won’t have a lot but want diversity with what we are doing. It’ll be a fun thing for people to do outside safely.”

Lynn said he hopes it helps people get in the Christmas spirit as the holiday approaches.

Santa will be in the gazebo at Calvin Hipp Park immediately following the parade for pictures.

“He’s going to be a safety Santa this year,” Lynn said. “We are going to have a very safe and protocol-heavy event.”

Another holiday festivity to attend during the weekend is the Burrow Warehouse Sweet Breakfast with Peppy the Elf. In time slots from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. children can make reindeer treats, eat breakfast and take family photos with Peppy the Elf.  For more information and tickets, visit www.burrowwarehouse.com/events.

Continuing the weekend with more holiday events is  the Christmas Wreath Workshop: Mixed Green Session II at the Hills and Dales Estate Saturday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Attendees can create a wreath using plant material from the estate. All participants will leave with a wreath to grace their door, complete with a hand-tied bow if desired.

Hills and Dales asks that attendees bring clippers if you have them. All other supplies will be provided. The cost is  $40 per person that includes supplies and refreshments.

Call 706-882-3242 or email info@hillsanddales.org to register.