Richmond Hill's Holiday Season Has One Saturday That Closes Ford Avenue

At 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 5, Hwy 144/Ford Avenue closes in both directions between Cedar Street and Town Centre Drive. The City of Richmond Hill expects it to stay closed until about 1:30 p.m., or for as long as the parade runs. That same morning, the Holiday Tour of Homes is listed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Richmond Hill History Museum, 11460 Ford Avenue. An Artist Pop-Up is set for the Richmond Hill Visitors Center at 10750 Ford Avenue.

The holiday season's biggest day all happens on one road. The rest of the season is spread out. The city's own events fall on weekdays at J.F. Gregory Park, and the weekend markets and concerts belong to Heartwood at Exit 82 and Belhaven out on Belfast River Road. Once you see that pattern, planning the next six weeks gets a lot easier.

December 5 Runs on One Corridor

The City of Richmond Hill's parade notice sets the 30th Annual Christmas Parade for Saturday, December 5. This year's theme is "Scenes of the Season." Here's how the morning goes, according to the city's schedule and its route and detour map:

1. 7:00 to 8:45 a.m. Parade participants sign in and stage at Timber Trail Recreation Complex on Ballpark Road.
2. 9:30 a.m. Road closures begin. Hwy 144/Ford Avenue closes between Cedar Street and Town Centre Drive, and Timber Trail closes from Plantation Way to Hwy 144.
3. 10:00 a.m. The parade steps off. The city's notice says it "begins promptly."
4. About 1:30 p.m. The closures are expected to lift, or they last as long as the parade does.

The official detour runs from Town Centre Drive to Brisbon Road to Harris Trail to Hwy 17. If you're headed to the home tour or the Visitors Center pop-up that morning, both are listed on Ford Avenue, the road the parade takes over. Check the city's map against your route before you leave, and plan on extra time if you're driving between 9:30 and early afternoon.

The tour runs until 5 p.m., so the afternoon is the easier time to go. By then the road should be open again.

The City Keeps Its Own Dates Midweek, on Cedar Street

The city's two November events both land on weekdays at J.F. Gregory Park, 521 Cedar Street.

The Veterans Day Ceremony is Wednesday, November 11, at 11 a.m. at the Veterans Monument in the park.

The 2026 Tree Lighting & Winter Market is Thursday, November 19, from 5 to 8 p.m. It's free, and the city lists holiday market vendors, the tree lighting itself, live entertainment, food trucks, photos with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and trackless train rides. It's a Thursday-night event that runs from after work until a reasonable bedtime for younger kids, and it doesn't compete with any of the weekend festivals.

Cedar Street comes back once more before the parade. On Thursday, December 3, the Good Friends of Bryan County Fundraiser Luncheon is listed at Richmond Hill City Center, 520 Cedar Street, across the street from the park. That evening, the same charity benefits from a market at Heartwood.

The Weekends Go to Heartwood and Belhaven

With the city's events on weekdays, most of the weekend and evening calendar comes from two private hosts.

Belhaven, on Belfast River Road

Belhaven is a rustic wedding and event venue on 14 acres at 1000 Belfast River Road. Its biggest fall date is the Boots & Roots Music & Food Truck Festival on Saturday, November 7. The Bryan County Chamber of Commerce hosts it, and Tim & Dave's Nursery presents it. Gates open at 3:30 p.m., and the festival runs from 4 to 10 p.m. The lineup is Derrick Flowers, Chuck Courtenay, Hannah Dasher and Will Moseley. The event also has food trucks, a cash bar and a shuttle, and a VIP option includes dinner, drinks and front-of-stage viewing. Set times differ between the event listings, so check the Chamber's page on the day for the final order.

Belhaven comes back on Saturday, November 28, the weekend after Thanksgiving, with a Holiday Market. One listing describes local vendors, food, a market crawl with prizes and free photos with Santa. Two public listings give different hours, one 3 to 5 p.m. and the other 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., so check before you go.

The Outfitters at Heartwood, at Exit 82

The Outfitters at Heartwood, 35 Outfitters Drive, hosts two dates. Live After Five is Friday, November 6, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The 6th Annual Party with a Purpose Christmas Market is Thursday, December 3. The Wellspring Group presents it to benefit Good Friends of Bryan County, and the company says it will match vendor donations. The listing promises local vendors, refreshments, holiday music, raffles and giveaways. The event page gives two time windows, 5:30 to 7 p.m. and 5 to 7:30 p.m. Arriving after 5:30 works with either.

That makes December 3 a Cedar Street lunch and an Exit 82 evening, both for the same charity.

The New Stop at Exit 82 This Year

This season also has a new address at Heartwood. On September 24, Heartwood held the ribbon cutting for The Row, a strip of shops in Poplar Place in Heartwood's Town District. It sits behind the new Kessler hotels and the Starbucks at Exit 82. Announced tenants include Pin High Indoor Golf, Hawg's Golf Cart, The UPS Store, Keller's Woodfire Pizza and LuFinity Nails. Heartwood said some businesses were still finishing their spaces at the ribbon cutting and would announce individual opening dates later.

Keller's Woodfire Pizza is the one to watch. The business has run as a food truck for four years, and The Row is its first restaurant. Theresa Reeves, who owns it with her husband James, told the Savannah Morning News, "We have a new oven and we can put 15 pizzas in there at once." The paper reported in late September that the couple hoped to open in November. If they hit that date, Exit 82 gets a sit-down dinner option right in the middle of the Heartwood holiday markets.

Fort McAllister Closes the Season a Week Later

The last big date comes one Saturday after the parade, and it's out on the river. The 162nd Winter Muster Reenactment is Saturday, December 12, from 10 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. at Fort McAllister State Park, 3894 Fort McAllister Road. Georgia State Parks describes it as a reenactment of Georgia's final Civil War battle, which marked the end of Sherman's March to the Sea.

The schedule works backward from the battle. It begins at 4:40 p.m., and the park asks visitors to arrive by 4. Admission is $15. On Friday, December 11, the soldiers' encampments are open, which gives you a look at camp life without the Saturday crowd.

Fort McAllister Road also hosts an earlier event. The Bikes for Tikes Trout Tournament is listed for Saturday, November 21, at Fort McAllister Marina, 3203 Fort McAllister Road.

The Whole Run, in Date Order

For a fuller list of local happenings through the holidays, the Richmond Hill Convention & Visitors Bureau calendar is updated as new listings come in.

At Oliver Group, we keep track of how Richmond Hill's calendar is changing, from the city's Cedar Street events to the new storefronts at Exit 82. If you're curious how that growth shows up in what your home is worth, ask us for a home valuation before the parade traffic clears.