lights, enjoy a hot cocoa and roast
marshmallows by the socially-
distanced fire pits. Due to concerns
for COVID-19, there will be no Santa
visits or train rides at this year's event.
Albany's nearly 800-acre Chehaw
Wild Animal Park includes a 100-acre
zoo originally designed by Albany
native and naturalist Jim Fowler
of TV's "Wild Kingdom." The park
features natural habitat exhibits with
native and exotic animals, including
219 specimens representing 84
species of wild animals.
Lights run from 6-9 p.m. Dec. 4-6,
11-13, 18-24, 26-27. chehaw.org
VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS AT
HARDMAN FARM
Join in a Victorian Christmas in
Sautee-Nacoochee at the Hardman
Farm State Historic Site and see the
house dressed in period holiday
décor while learning about Victorian
holiday traditions from docents in
their finest 1870s garb. This open
house is highlighted by twinkling
candlelight and live music.
4-7p.m. Dec. 4-5, 11-12 and 18-
19. hardmanfarmstatehistoricsite.
eventbrite.com
LEFT PHOTO: BLUE RIDGE SCENIC
RAILWAY; BOTTOM RIGHT PHOTOS:
HELEN, GEORGIA.
BLUE RIDGE SCENIC RAILWAY
Ranked by Southern Living
Magazine as one of the "South's
Best Mountain Towns," Blue Ridge
is all at once outdoorsy, earthy,
upscale, fresh and historical – a
collision of opposites resulting in
a picture-perfect holiday scene.
The Blue Ridge Scenic Railway,
following the Toccoa River to the
charming town of McCaysville on
the Tennessee border, turns into
the Santa Express through Dec.
23. Reservations are required for
social distancing.
Revised this year for COVID-19
guidelines, streets will be closed
to allow more space for visitors
to stroll. Santa will be in the park
gazebo practicing safe distancing
with plexiglass shielding and a
separate seat for children to make
their requests.
BlueRidgeMountains.com
DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021 | maconmagazine.com 89
