By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times
If you weren’t already in the Christmas spirit before this past weekend, Grayson’s Hometown Holidays, Olive Hill’s Christmas on the Hill and Christmas at the Depot, and the Hitchins Christmas parade should have helped you get there. But if you missed out on those, don’t fret. There are still opportunities to embrace the holiday.
Festivities began last week, with the community tree lighting, Hometown Holidays, and Market 474 events in Grayson and annual Christmas on the Hill show in Olive Hill.
They continued on Saturday with Christmas parades in Hitchins (see A taste of the holidays in Hitchins) and Grayson, along with caroling, stories, music, light shows, and other events throughout the day.
Of course, holiday gift shopping was one of the big draws of Grayson’s Market 474, which included various hand-crafted and artisanal products, such as the all-natural beauty products from Ashley McGlone with Simple Soul Handmade. McGlone explained that her all natural beauty products, including brown sugar scrubs and her geranium rose toner, were all handmade from naturally-sourced ingredients. In fact, the geraniums and roses used in her toner were grown by McGlone herself. Though Market 474 was only McGlone’s second show, she had nearly sold out of many of her beauty products. She still had plenty of her “sustainable home products” though, such as “unpaper towels” that can be unrolled, used, washed, and then returned to a paper towel roll where they can be removed one sheet at a time. Also popular were her beeswax-infused food wraps, which can be used like cling wrap and rinsed and reused multiple times.
Later on Saturday, after the Grayson Christmas parade, Olive Hill held their second night of Christmas on the Hill, and on Monday Christmas at the Depot allowed children to visit with Santa, and receive food, gifts, and warm clothing items provided by various community groups and individuals.
On Sunday, Grayson continued their events with a “pop-up parade” throughout the city, and the fire department light show.
But there are still more events to come. The Grayson Fire Department will continue their holiday light show, and the Carter County Merry & Bright Christmas Light Trail, stretching between Grayson and Olive Hill and co-sponsored by each city’s Chamber of Commerce, will continue through Christmas.
Organizations are also still collecting for Project Merry Christmas and other charitable events across the county. For more information, you can visit both the Grayson and Olive Hill Chamber of Commerce websites or Facebook pages.
The Grayson Chamber is online at graysonchamber.com, and Olive Hill at olivehillchamberofcommerce.com.
Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com
Jace Holbrook (left), Easton McDavid (center), and Abel Simmons (right) participate in the decorated bicycle contest. 
Bob Patel and the Hitchins Food Mart crew toss candy to children during the 5th annual Hitchins Christmas Parade. (Photo by Jeremy D. Wells, Carter County Times) 
Clay Miller serves soup beans in Hitchins Saturday afternoon. 
The Grinch visited Hitchins. No presents were reported missing. 
Olive Hill’s annual Christmas on the Hill featured solo and ensemble performances. 
Angie Messer Fultz performs during Christmas on the Hill. 
Mr. and Mrs. Claus wave to the crowd during Grayson’s Hometown Holidays Parade. (Photo by Jeremy D. Wells, Carter County Times) 
The East Carter Raiders Regional Champions football team throws candy to the crowd in Grayson Saturday night. 
Agents with Century 21 Realty hand out balloons before the Hometown Holidays parade. 
Jaylen Miller works on a handmade ornament at the library.
