Monday Night Caroling Hike and optional After-Party! - Mon, Dec 22 2014

REGISTRATION & PAYMENT REQUIRED: Once you've reviewed the event details, and decided you'd like to join us, you MUST sign up at the bottom of this page. This is a paid event with payment managed by the trip leader(s) and NOT the AOC. Please read the event description carefully for payment details and instructions.



Monday Night Caroling Hike and optional After-Party!


The Basics:
Event Type:Urban Hike
Event Location: Vista Grove Shopping Center, 2860 LaVista Rd in NE Atlanta   Urban Hike: Monday Night Caroling Hike and optional After-Party!  National Weather Service Forecast
Date(s) & Time:Mon, Dec 22 2014  7:00 pm >> Mon, Dec 22 2014 10:30 pm
Registration Opens: Sun, Dec 21 2014 10:00 pm
Registration Cut Off: Mon, Dec 22 2014 6:00 pm
Event Duration:3 Hours 30 Minutes
Difficulty Rating:D1: Easy
Distance:2 Miles
Pace:Leisurely
Trip Leader(s):
Charlie Cottingham
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Member Cost:$10.00/Person (See Detailed Cost Info Below)

Participant Info:
Who's Invited: Members Only, 21 And Older Only
Maximum Group Size:12
Minimum Group Size:2
Number Registered So Far: 3 / 0 (To see who's signed up, log in to the Member Area)
Are Dogs Permitted: No

Itinerary:

IN A NUTSHELL:  Calling AOC carolers!  Not-so-cold temperatures in the high 40s are expected this Monday evening.  Celebrate Christmas and the week of the Winter Solstice by joining us for this heartwarming outing in an upscale neighborhood in NE Atlanta!  We'll walk to the front yards of about 15 well-decorated homes, ring the doorbells, and politely sing a wide variety of popular holiday songs based on the kids' and other occupants' requests. (A few examples:  Winter Wonderland, Sleigh Ride, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, White Christmas and Feliz Navidad.)  Afterward we'll enjoy a festive party at the home of one of our carolers, with lots of hot pizza and a nice variety of liquid refreshments and usually a warm backyard bonfire!  If you'd like to stick around for this option there's a $10 cash fee payable to the "Hash Cash" volunteer - otherwise there's no charge for joining us.
 This big fun event is organized annually by my friends in the "Atlanta Moonlite H4" chapter of the "Hash House Harriers." I've enjoyed helping lead this "Tacky Lights Caroling Tour" for the past 10 or 12 years and helping keep our 40 or so carolers more-or-less "on key" with my guitar.  Song booklets are provided for everyone to share, and there's no requirement that you sing well or at all - just that you get into the cheerful spirit of the season!  We each wear whatever we like, but with emphasis on
 bright "holiday" colors in our garments and "tacky" pin-on lights that blink - hence the event's name.

WHEN and WHERE?  We'll gather at 7:00 PM Monday evening in the free parking lot of Vista Grove Shopping Center, at 240 LaVista Rd, just 1 block east of the traffic light at Oak Grove Rd. (See detailed Directions below and Lat/Lon coordinates to enter if you like as your GPS or Maps.Google.com destination.)  After greeting everyone we'll depart on foot together for an hour or two of caroling followed by the festive optional "after-party."  Feel free to "split" from the caroling or from the party as early as you like, and we can easily direct you back to your car.  I expect to depart from the party by about 10:30 toward Vista Grove and you're welcome to walk with me.

ABOUT the "MOONLITE H4" HASH HOUSE HARRIERS:  No jogging is required on the Monday night of this "Tacky Lights" caroling (only leisurely walking!) but we'll enjoy the harriers' usual festive party afterward with plenty of refreshments - also in this case lots of hot fresh pizza!  On virtually every OTHER Monday evening throughout the year this loosely organized club sponsors a fun jogging event called a "hash," with typically about 25 joggers (a.k.a. "harriers" or "hashers") helping one another follow the trail of a volunteer "hare." The trail is typically "laid" by the hare an hour or two before the event and consists of occasional baking flour splotches along wooded trails, sidewalks, etc.  The reward for the harriers successfully following the hare to the end of the trail is a big stash of refreshments and an after-jog party!  Newcomers, be forewarned!  The Hash House Harriers are not known for their strict adherence to social norms, so be prepared (at our after-party) for some bawdy singing, a few "R-rated" hasher nicknames, and the possibility of being asked to participate in the "ritualistic chugging" of a small cup of cold beer - or soft drink if you prefer!

FOR MORE on the MOONLITE H4 and other GA HASH HOUSE HOUSE HARRIER GROUPS and UPCOMING EVENTS click this link:  http://www.OnIn.com/hhh/#georgia_hashes

For more on the history, culture and worldwide popularity of the sport of "Hashing" go to:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hash_House_Harriers


Required Items to Bring:


Wear comfortable Walking Shoes or hiking boots and warm Clothing Layers (ideally festively decorated!) plus perhaps a warm Cap and Gloves.

 As discussed above if you'd like to stick around for the nice after-party bring $10 in Cash to give the AH4 registration volunteer in the parking lot Start Area.

Recommended Items to Bring:
Use our Event Checklists to make sure you have everything you need.

 - A lightweight Headlamp or Flashlight is recommended to help you read the songbook and to facilitate walking in some of the darker parts of the "tour"  - but it should be no problem if you don't bring one - we'll have plenty of lights to share.

- Bring your Camera if you like.  It's a very photogenic event!

- Bring a Tambourine or other noisemaker or musical instrument if you have one.


How to Get There:
Event Directions:

THE "START LOCATION" for the Tacky Light Caroling Tour this year will be the FREE parking lot of the small Vista Grove Shopping Center, near "Sprig Restaurant" at 2860 LaVista Rd, Decatur, GA 30033.  For a zoomable map or satellite view of that meetup spot click the blue & green rectangular "Location" icon near the top of this article.

FROM I-85 CLAIRMONT RD EXIT (Exit #91) in NE Atlanta to our 7PM Meetup Spot:

1. From I-85 Exit #91 (GA-23, "Clairmont Rd") take Clairmont Road toward Decatur (south & slightly east) about 1.6 miles to the traffic light at LaVista Road.

2. Turn Left onto LaVista and go eastward 0.9 mile (THROUGH the next traffic light at Oak Grove Rd) to the small Vista Grove shopping center on your Left (at 2868 LaVista Rd).  Look for the green & white striped roofs and park near the Subway and "Sprig" restaurants on the east end of the shopping center.

3. Simply look for other gaudily dressed carolers and please try to be on time, allowing for traffic.

APPROX. LAT/LON COORDINATES of the spot where we'll meet: (You GPS or Google.com/maps users may wish to augment the above verbal directions by entering these map coordinates as your destination.)

  33.82543,-84.28951


Notes:
* We encourage all members to follow our Etiquette Guidelines while participating in AOC events.

Member Cost:$10.00/Person
Cost Includes:

Each participant who wishes to stick around for the festive "After Party" simply pays $10 in cash to the "Moonlite AH4" registrar in the meetup parking lot and gives him or her your name.  No advance guarantee of your participation is expected by the Hash House Harriers, but if you find that you can't join us after all please cancel your AOC registration since we may have a wait list.

Make a Payment:Although there is a cost for this event, you do not pay through the AOC. Please review the event details carefully for information about how/where to make your payment.

Cancellation/Partial Attendance:   Please review the AOC cancellation policy.