ATHENS-The award is admittedly tacky, being a candlestick speckled in gold and converted into a cup-like appearance with a touch of holiday sprig.
Yet, the downtown Athens merchants will put on their cider swagger this Saturday to win the coveted Cider Cup award. The annual Spirit of Athens Sippin’ Cider event will be Saturday, Dec. 12, from 5-8 p.m., and the merchants need the public to come out and sample their cider and vote for their favorite. Wildwood Deli won the 2014 Cider Cup and proudly displays it on a shelf for all to admire.
“Cider is a holiday favorite, and this gives the public an opportunity to sample various recipes and visit our downtown businesses,” said Spirit of Athens Executive Director Trisha Black. “This also gives people time to get some Christmas shopping done and enjoy free Christmas festivities with their family.”
Trisha Black
Those who sample the required number of ciders can return their ballot to be entered into a drawing for door prizes. Prizes include:
● Bennett’s Christmas gift bag
● Gray & Holt $50 gift certificate
● Epiphany Boutique $50 gift card
● Hendricks-Patton-Rancl U.S. flag with pole or cast iron corn stick pan
● High Cotton Arts 2016 calendar, notecards and $20 gift certificate
● LuVici’s one free dinner
● Pablo’s $25 gift certificate
● Trinity’s a Swan Creek candle gift set
● U.G. White General Mercantile a Woolrich Christmas tree skirt
● Snapdragon Christmas angel
● Belles and Beaus a piece of Little English luggage.
Matthew Fisher, who made the winning 2014 cider concoction, said that during last year’s event about 70 percent of those who tried his cider were new visitors to the restaurant. Black said other merchants reported heavy traffic to their stores.
“The activities, the festive atmosphere and the cider help us draw local shoppers and newcomers to our historic downtown to support our local businesses and show off downtown Athens as a retail destination,” Black said.
To promote holiday cheer, Santa will stroll The Square and members of the East Limestone High School Choir will perform carols around downtown. The Lion’s Club will offer train rides to children around The Square. Other activities include an area for roasting marshmallows on The Square and Christmas crafts for children at designated merchant locations. High Cotton Arts on Washington Street will have Whistlin’ Dixie performing from 5-8 p.m. Pablo’s on Market will host a book signing by Jerry Barksdale.
Event goers can also search for the “Twelve Days of Christmas” windows some of the merchants created to coincide with the theme of the Reliance 
Bank Christmas Parade that was held earlier this month. There are lords a leaping, ladies dancing, milk jars for the eight maids and more. Spirit of Athens brought in judges to determine the top three windows. The winners are:
● First Place- Garnet’s with five gold rings
● Second Place – Crawford’s Gifts with carolers whose favorite song is “Twelve Days of Christmas”
● Third – High Cotton Arts with its art inspired Christmas trees and Christmas calendar
Shoppers will find special deals at many of the businesses, including some in-store door prizes:
● Snapdragon – 20 percent off clothes and shoes and in-store drawing for $50 gift certificate
● The Grasshopper – In-store drawing for $30 certificate
● Bennett’s – Purchase any North Face product at regular price and get second of equal value half off
● Crawford’s Gifts – 20 percent off candles
● Epiphany Boutique – 20 percent off everything
● Hendricks-Patton-Rancl – 10percent off all furniture
● LuVici’s – Receive a gift certificate for one free lunch with purchase of $50 gift certificate
● Pablo’s -Cookbooks and most other books 30 percent off and sport pictures 50 percent off
● Pimentos – 25 percent off Christmas ornaments
● Trinity’s – Several sale items
● U.G. White General Mercantile – 20 percent off Woolrich Blankets
● Wildwood Deli – Holiday brew served with spiced cake; this will be set up at Studio Blue
For more information about Sippin’ Cider, go to Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/986784891368282/ to find the Sippin’ Cider Festival page
