SUGAR HILL — What once consisted of small neighborhood gatherings and modest seasonal displays has grown into a citywide holiday experience in Sugar Hill, shaped by civic investment, local participation and community pride.

As downtown has developed over the past decade, the city’s holiday offerings have expanded alongside it, transforming December into a season of concerts, performances, film screenings and family-focused events centered around venues such as The Bowl, the E Center and the Eagle Theatre.

“As our downtown has evolved over the last decade, we have been able to expand our programs and appeal to a variety of residents and visitors,” Mayor Brandon Hembree said. “Downtown Sugar Hill has become a destination, especially during the holiday season, for families to create traditions.”

Hembree said the growth of Sugar Hill’s civic spaces has allowed longtime traditions to expand while creating room for new ones. Among those is holiday programming at the Eagle Theatre, which now includes discounted movie screenings during Christmas week.

“At the Eagle Theatre, we are able to do $2 movies during the week of Christmas,” Hembree said. “We show movies like The Polar Express, which has become an annual tradition for families.”

Additional attractions, including an ice rink and expanded holiday activities, have helped establish the season as more than a single event, encouraging families to return throughout December.

City officials say the holiday season’s success is tied not only to infrastructure but also to community involvement. Hembree said residents are drawn back each year because they play an active role in the celebrations.

“Many parents come to the Eagle Theatre to watch their children and friends perform in versions of The Nutcracker put on by Suwanee Ballet or other holiday-focused plays like Frozen performed by On the Stage Children’s Theatre,” he said. “The parents and children become owners and stakeholders in the traditions we start as a community.”

Local involvement from volunteers, artists, students and businesses has also been key to sustaining the city’s holiday momentum.

“Volunteers are absolutely critical for anything we do as a city that is community focused,” Hembree said. “When volunteers are involved, they become co-owners and stakeholders in the tradition.”

Hembree said community-driven events such as the city’s Holiday Celebration and Wreaths Across America help ensure traditions continue for future generations.

As Sugar Hill continues to grow, city leaders say the holiday season will continue to evolve while maintaining the traditions residents have come to expect. What began as small gatherings has become a recurring centerpiece of community life each December, reflecting a city that continues to expand without losing its sense of connection.