PRAIRIE GROVE -- The first Christmas Parade in Prairie Grove brought out lots of people on a cold night to celebrate the holiday season.
At the same time, about six miles west, the city of Lincoln held its annual Christmas on the Square and more than 800 people showed up for that community's family fun event.
In Prairie Grove, parade-goers lined both sides of Buchanan Street downtown and others watched along the rest of the parade route.
The Chamber's 2nd Saturday Trades Day Committee planned and coordinated the city's first parade.
"We thought it was a huge success, considering it was the first one," said Audra Bailey, who chairs the committee. "We were really excited about all the floats and it was great to see the town show up."
The parade had about 30 entries and these included lighted floats, antique and classic cars, tractors, Prairie Grove Fire Department, the high school band and cloggers dancing in the streets.
Flowers-N-Friends, Friends of Prairie Grove Pound, Ace Hardware, Prairie Grove Senior Activity and Wellness Center, New Life Covenant Church, PG Pelco, Prairie Grove Police Department, Farmers Insurance and Prairie Grove cheerleaders are some of the groups that entered floats in the parade.
Mayor Sonny Hudson and state Rep. Charlene Fite also rode in vehicles to wave to those watching the parade.
Hudson thanked the 2nd Saturday Trades Day Committee for its leadership and also thanked businesses and other organizations that participated in the parade.
"We couldn't have done it without them," Hudson said.
From everything he heard from others, Hudson thought the parade was great.
"It's hard to evaluate it when you're in it but everybody I talked to really enjoyed it," Hudson said. "I think they are excited about it being a tradition."
Parades and other events are important to local communities, Hudson said.
"Anything you can do to give people an opportunity to get out in their own town is a good thing. Activities are good and people are happy to do it."
Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus rode in the parade and afterward settled in for an evening to visit with kids. Children were lined up at Fat Rolls to have their picture taken with Santa and give their Christmas wishes to him. Fat Rolls also provided free hot chocolate and cookies.
Christmas on the Square in Lincoln features a chicken dinner or hot dogs, pony rides, kettle corn and visits with Santa Claus. Everything is free to those who come and the city sees the event as a way to give back to the community and allow them to enjoy time together.
Rhonda Hulse, city business manager, said the city gave away 500 chicken dinners and about 300 hot dogs. Tyson Foods donated the chicken and Mayor Rob Hulse and others spent Saturday smoking the chicken in preparation for Christmas on the Square.
Lincoln Area Chamber of Commerce sponsored Santa Claus and put together goody bags for Santa to give out to children. Glenn Nolan Concessions of Farmington handed out small bags of kettle corn and Partytime Ponies provided the pony rides.
"Everything went really well and we stayed busy," Rhonda Hulse said. "We have people from all over, not just Lincoln, and I think most people are very appreciative of it."
General News on 12/13/2017