For Chris Gentry, this year’s Jingle Eve event is a kind of homecoming.
The annual event returns from 4:30-9 p.m.on Nov. 22, a district-wide celebration that kicks off the holiday season, welcoming upwards of 8,500 attendees who shop, stroll and sip their way around the neighborhood.
“Jingle Eve has a pretty special place in my heart, because when I opened Gentry’s BBQ General Store on Ivanhoe Road years ago, [Jingle Eve] was when my store really got noticed and we took off. People knew who I was, where I was,” Gentry says. “We had a fantastic night, not only financially, but we got to meet the neighborhood and then people started coming.”
Gentry closed the shop a couple of years ago, but it’s enabled him to get back to his first love: cooking. He’ll be bringing his spanky-new BBQ trailer and looks forward to seeing and feeding a lot of familiar faces.
Ivanhoe Village Main Street executive director Allex Englett is eager, too, to see area businesses reap the benefits of the neighborhood-wide celebration.
“Our local restaurants see some of their highest traffic of the year, and food trucks bring additional options for visitors who want to wander and enjoy the event outdoors,” Englett says. “Jingle Eve’s economic impact is felt most strongly in our small businesses, where many welcome new customers they might not otherwise reach.”
Jingle Eve is a free celebration, but those looking to feel even more merry and bright can opt for the “12 Wines of Christmas” Wine Walk. The $50 ticket includes a keepsake wine glass and access to a curated selection of red or white wine options at 20 locations throughout the Village. (Courtesy Ivanhoe Village)
One of the best ways to bring in new faces is certainly the Wine Walk ($50), which Englett says traditionally sells out.
While the larger event is free, participants in the “12 Wines of Christmas” sip and stroll will receive a keepsake wine glass and access to tastings amongst a Tim’s Wine Market-curated selection of red or white wine options at twenty locations throughout the Village.
Shop small on Jingle Eve, supporting local makers while grabbing unique gifts for under the tree or inside the stocking. The popular event returns to Ivanhoe Village on Nov. 22. (Courtesy Ivanhoe Village)
Beyond the liquid cheer, however, all ages will enjoy the local makers and shops, both those on the avenue and the many vendors whose tents twinkle with holiday cheer (and great, unique gift options). Some will be offering raffles. Entertainment and family activities, including crafts, bounce houses, a bubble bus, music, photo-ops and other seasonal programming, will be spread across Virginia Drive, Orange Avenue and Gaston Edwards Park.
What’s Englett’s favorite part of the celebration?
Pitmaster Chris Gentry introduced the swanky new Gentry’s BBQ trailer at the College Park JazzFest. He’ll be back in the Ivanhood for Jingle Eve. (Courtesy Gentry’s BBQ)
“The cheer!” she says.
“The entire district comes alive with lights, laughter and genuine community connection. Most businesses participate in some way, and there’s this unmistakable sense of joy and togetherness that makes Ivanhoe Village feel like its own little holiday village for the evening.”
As in years past, Jingle Eve concludes with a fireworks display over Lake Ivanhoe. (Courtesy Ivanhoe Village)
Wrapping with holiday fireworks over Lake Ivanhoe, the event is a gateway to the season, reinforcing the district’s cultural identity, showcasing its art and the creativity of its business owners — as well as its walkability, reminding folks from other parts of town that time spent in the Ivanhood is a one-stop playground, whether for shopping or brunch, date night or otherwise.
For Gentry, whose new phase includes catering, popups and events (check out Gentry’s website — gentrysbbq.com — for the schedule), bringing his brand of southern barbecue back to the place that made him is a pleasure — and a prime place to make new friends as well as revisit the old.
Gentry’s $7 single smashburger will be among the menu hits come Jingle Eve. (Courtesy Gentry’s BBQ)
“It’s such an important event for all the small businesses, restaurants and bars here, because people come out in droves and they do support it. It’s the spirit of the season. It’s a fantastic event.”
Jingle Eve is a free event. For Wine Walk tickets, visit ivanhoevillage.org/shop/limited-time/jingle-eve-12-wines-of-christmas-2025-wine-walk-tickets. For parking, Englett encourages carpooling, rideshare, biking or the Lake Highland lot on Alden Road ($10).
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