Walk the streets of downtown Statesboro listening to live holiday music and tasting delicious food with friends and family at the annual Downtown Holiday Celebration Friday, Dec 5.

“This is the biggest event of the year. [It’s a] time for community to come together and have a good time,” Allen Muldery, director of the organization, said.

The celebration starts out with the 5k Run in Boro downtown. The race is $25 to register and the proceeds go to The United Way and the Mayors’ Christmas Motorcade. The race starts at 5:30 p.m. in front of City Hall. The downtown celebration festival also includes a parade.

“The parade will feature basketball players walking,four-wheel ATVS, tractors and golf carts,” Muldery said.

The festival includes photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, a bouncy house and other youth activities for younger family members.

Following the parade, holiday vendors will set up and sell food, arts and crafts and specialty items. There will be a stage where church organizations and high school students sing and perform skits. A live band will be filling the streets of downtown Statesboro with cheerful music while people shop and look at the 40-50 vendors that will be on the streets.

Perhaps the most looked forward to event is the annual Chili-Town contest, which is sponsored by Statesboro Natural Gas.

“Thirty-five to forty competitors participate in the contest. People come in and vote for their favorite. They give out free chili dogs. It is a lot of fun and a lot of different tasty chili,” Muldery said.

The winner of the Chili-Town contest will receive the popular Big Green Egg grill. It is a one dollar donation to participate in tasting the different types of chili. The donations go to South Georgia Center for Georgia Care.

The festivities start at 5:30 p.m. by Sugar Magnolia Bakery and Market in downtown Statesboro. Muldery said that the event is still looking for volunteers to set up. To help volunteer or for more information call (912) 764-7227.