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Making the Season Bright for Cheraw Christmas Fest
Story by John Clayton
We all have those light bulb moments in life when a big idea flashes into being. As the director of the Cheraw Arts Commission, Lindsay Bennett often dreams of creative projects.
What started as 1 of Lindsay’s ideas is now an actual illuminating experience. In 2019, she added the Lantern Parade to the long-standing Cheraw Christmas Fest.
But a lot of them stick, like her 2019 idea to add a Lantern Parade to the longstanding Cheraw Christmas Fest. Now the Christmas Fest and Lantern Parade kick off a busy Yuletide schedule for area residents and local businesses in Cheraw. This year’s event is scheduled for Friday, December 6.
“It’s a fun little thing, and people really seem to enjoy it,” Lindsay says. “We have all these little stations downtown, and our downtown businesses come, and they supply hot chocolate and hot cider. We also have a couple of food trucks there, so attendees can get something. It’s kid-friendly and doesn’t cost anybody anything.”
The Lantern Parade continues to grow. Atlanta lantern artist Chantelle Rytter was contracted in 2021 to create unique lanterns that are a literal reflection of downtown Cheraw. Chantelle’s lanterns include miniature illuminated versions of several historic buildings in downtown such as Market Hall, Town Hall and Theatre on the Green.
“They’re fixed so we can carry them,” Lindsay says. “Usually, it takes 1 person to carry them, and we have volunteers who carry them in the parade.”
A Different Project
Chantelle worked on the architecture-inspired lanterns during the pandemic in 2020, going solely by photos.
“I just did it based on every photograph I could find of them," she says. “I did all these drawings and then figured out how to apply them to the buildings. It was an intense drawing project, and I really enjoyed it. I was really pleased with how they look, and it was fun to really look at the buildings and get a feel for the architecture of an era.”
Chantelle has since seen those buildings in person, and her influence helped create budding lantern artists who annually light up the parade with their own creations. “We purchase some paper lanterns and pass them out to groups and kids and anybody who wants them,” Lindsay says. “We usually create a little package with things they can decorate the lanterns with, like stickers, streamers, and whatever.”
The Cheraw Arts Commission has also hosted a workshop for people who want to create their own lantern masterpieces, and Lindsay says she was blown away by the creativity. The creations included a reindeer head, candy cane, and a giant Christmas ornament, among others, and they all have helped the Lantern Parade grow. Another workshop is already being planned.
"Our hope is that we will now be able to invite more people and teach this process to anyone who wants to come, so that’s exciting,” Lindsay says.
Family Fun
The parade, led by the Cheraw High School Marching Tribe, is just the beginning of family-friendly holiday activities in downtown Cheraw in December.
“Everybody lines up with their lanterns ready, and it’s just excitement,” Lindsay says. “The band leads us, playing Christmas carols, and we walk down a couple of blocks. It doesn’t take very long, but it’s a lot of fun.”
The city’s Christmas tree lighting at Centennial Park follows the parade. Other events include a Deck the House contest and the annual Twilight Concert at Old St. David’s Episcopal Church, which features bell and vocal choirs. This year’s Twilight Concert is set for Tuesday, December 10.
Christmas Fest also features cookie decorating, an ice sculpture artist, face painting, a letter to Santa writing station, and photo opportunities with Santa and other holiday characters.
While Christmas Fest is the city’s kickoff for the holidays, thoughts of the season begin much earlier than December in local schools. K-12 students create their cards for the Christmas card competition in the fall, and contest winners are announced the first week of December prior to Christmas Fest. “This is something that has been going on for around 40 years,” Lindsay says. “It’s a big thing.”
Winners are named in different divisions—first through third and honorable mentions—and an overall Best in Show. And the “big thing” may get a little bigger, thanks to another of Lindsay’s ideas. What if the Best in Show winner is featured with the winning card design in the parade alongside the lanterns?
“I can send it to a local printer, and they can enlarge it to a poster size,” Lindsay says. “The winner can carry their Christmas card. Maybe they can carry more Christmas cards. I know that’s not easy, but it could be easily mounted, and the printer will do that. Then, all I have to do is attach something to carry it with.”