Gaffney celebrates Christmas and football

Thousands of local residents packed Limestone Street on Friday night for the City of Gaffney's annual Christmas on Limestone celebration and to show their support for the Gaffney Indians football team at a pep rally.

"It was an incredible crowd," said Will Hawkins, who attended the event with wife Kelly and daughters Clara and Lindy. "There were all sorts of things to do, so I'm glad that the rain held off for the event."

The festivities got underway at about 5:15 p.m., but the crowd really began to swell nearer to 6 for the annual Christmas tree lighting in front of city hall and then the pep rally around the front steps of First Baptist Church of Gaffney.

"We're all very proud of our Indians and the fact that they're on the warpath for the state championship again," Gaffney Broadcasting's Dennis Fowler said as he addressed the crowd.

Following his stirring remarks, the Gaffney High School Band of Gold performed a few fight songs and the Indian cheerleaders entertained the crowd.

"When we first got there, we didn't see much of a crowd," Kelly Hawkins recalled. "But when Clara heard the band playing up the street she took off running. Then, we turned the corner and the street was packed."

Inflatable rides like a jumping castle and giant slide kept kids busy while parents and grandparents were able to explore the sights and sounds of downtown. Most businesses were open and had various products on display. A line formed near the Central Exchange Cafe for children to get rides on Thomas the Tank Engine from the popular cartoon series - in miniature form.

The city's cultural side was on display as well with an unveiling of two new paintings of city buildings. A local artist had captured the colors and shapes of Gaffney's old city hall and also painted the new city hall. The works were on display side by side inside the lobby of the new seat of city government.

"It is a little nippy out, but at least the rain didn't come, this would be hard to do out here in

the weather," local artist Fred Knowles said. "But the kids really liked it." Knowles entertained crowds all night long with his sidewalk chalk drawings of Santa Claus and other Christmas icons, sponsored by Hospice Care of South Carolina.

Limestone College senior Steven Herron also added to the tapestry of events as he portrayed a town crier.

"This was a lot of fun," he said. "I've never been a town crier before, but since I'm graduating from Limestone this month, I thought it'd be nice to have a few more interesting experiences now that I'm finishing up college."

As crowds munched on roasted peanuts and even deep-fried Oreo cookies from Philco concession booths on either end of Limestone Street, festivities began winding down around 9 p.m. But even with temperatures dipping, families found some indoor activities, like a handbell choir from East Gaffney Baptist church inside city hall lobby to ring in the holiday spirit.