CHINA GROVE — There’s no need to wait until winter officially begins for snow in southern Rowan County.

Winter officially begins on Dec. 21, but snow is guaranteed this weekend in China Grove. The town will coat its well-known sledding hill on Swink Street with fake snow as part of the annual Christmas in the Grove event. Sledding and accompanying events will all be free to the public, said China Grove Events Coordinator Patti Price.

The sledding begins Friday at 4 p.m. adjacent to the China Grove Police Station at 205 Swink St. The event continues until 8 p.m. with food sales, free ornament making and characters in holiday costumes roaming around. The ornament making tent is hosted by the Rowan County Parent Teacher Association Council and the Crosby Scholars. The Carson Parent Teacher Association will sell hot chocolate. Popcorn and smores will be sold for 50 cents.

Price said the China Grove Fire Department will provide lights to illuminate Swink Street and the adjacent hill.

Sledders can continue slipping and sliding down the Swink Street hill on Saturday starting at 6 p.m. Food sales and free ornament making will continue at the police station on Saturday. A number of other events will be added to the mix at other locations in China Grove. Sledding and surrounding events are all scheduled to start at 6 p.m. and end at 8 p.m.

The China Grove Roller Mill will have horse and wagon rides. Carolers on the roller mill’s front step will serenade passersby.

Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus will be in Hannah Park, where Carson High School’s cheerleaders are also scheduled to do face painting.

Characters from the movie Frozen will be at Encore on Main.

St. Mark’s Lutheran Church will have a live nativity scene in conjuction with Christmas in the Grove events. The church is inviting the public to participate.

There’s no real snow in the forecast for China Grove’s weekend events, but Price said she’s optimistic about the outlook. Weather on Friday is expected to reach a high of about 54 degrees and dip to 28 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. On Saturday, temperatures are expected to reach a high of 46 degrees and dip to a low of 26 degrees.

If the fake snow melts between Friday evening and Saturday, Price said the town would put another coat of snow on the Swink Street hill.

For more information, visit www.chinagrovenc.gov.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.