TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) -- Thomasville is preparing for its 30th annual Victorian Christmas Festival. Organizers expect 30,000 visitors during the two-day event on December 8 and 9.
"It's magical," said Felicia Brannen, Main Street and auditorium manager for Thomasville. "There's lot of lights, there's lots of costumes. It's just really a hometown feel."
The festival features marshmallow toasting, chestnut roasting, a live nativity and carriage rides, among other attractions.
"People look forward to it from all over the country. They come, and they celebrate with us," Brannen said.
The event has grown over time. Horses used to clip-clop down Broad Street for the rides, but crowds got so big, the ride route was changed to cover more ground.
Sherri Nix, the marketing and communications manager for the city, said, "It was organized by the downtown merchants to bring people into downtown to see what they had in their shops."
A signature part of the event is getting dressed up, wearing costumes to reflect the Victorian Era.
"We've had a huge amount of our merchants decide that they wanted to participate," Nix said, "so, not only will you see people outside, you'll see people inside as well."
New to this year's festival is an old-fashioned carousel and a community sing-along. Locals say that they consider the festival a homecoming of sorts.
"One of the things we hear most in the street is I haven't seen you since last Victorian Christmas," Brannen said.
The festival kicks off Thursday at 6 p.m. and ends Friday at 9 p.m.
