Paxton’s Christmas Parade, tree-lighting ceremony set for this weekend


 

 

By WILL BRUMLEVE
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PAXTON — After a hiatus last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual Christmas Parade sponsored by PRIDE in Paxton is making its long-awaited return on Saturday, Nov. 27.

Scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Market Street downtown, the parade will feature numerous floats, vehicles and walkers to kick off the holiday season in Paxton. Its theme this year is “United We Stand,” in honor of local military veterans and first responders, including police officers, firefighters and paramedics.

The theme not only applies to those specific people, though, as “we’re all survivors” who pulled together to make it through “rough times” during the pandemic, noted Teri Hancock, president of PRIDE in Paxton. Fittingly, the community’s unity will be celebrated, as well.

In line with the theme, the parade will feature the carrying of Paxton’s Grand Old Flag — a 30-by-60-foot American flag — by Paxton firefighters through the downtown, weather permitting, Hancock said. Also, the parade’s grand marshal is a veteran, and “Reveille” will be performed.

While there will be no band from Paxton-Buckley-Loda High School in the parade this year, the Hope Vineyard Church’s band will be performing music, as will the brass band from the local United Methodist Church, Hancock said.

There will be numerous other parade entries, as well, including Santa Claus.

“We’ve had a lot of interest,” Hancock said. “Entry forms are just starting to roll in now.”

A large turnout is also expected.

“We estimate 2,500 to 3,000 attend each year, so hopefully this year will be the same,” Hancock said. “I think everybody’s excited about having it again. … We’re encouraging everybody to do whatever makes them feel safe, and hopefully they can come and enjoy the parade.”

Tree-lighting ceremony
The night prior to the parade — at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 26 — will be Paxton’s annual tree-lighting ceremony at the intersection of State and Market streets. A large evergreen was expected to be put up there Tuesday, Nov. 23, in preparation for being decorated and — come Friday night — lit for the holidays.

Frosty the Snowman and Santa Claus will both be on hand Friday night to greet kids and hand out bags of candy. They did last year, too, when it was designated as a drive-through event.

The tree-lighting ceremony will also feature the presentation of the annual Christmas Star Award, which goes to a Paxton resident who embodies the holiday spirit; the announcement of the Paxton Park District’s Christmas Prince and Princess; a welcome address by Mayor Bill Ingold; the blessing of the tree by the Rev. Jimm Wood of the Hope Vineyard Church; and the singing of Christmas carols.

‘Enchanted forest’
In conjunction with the tree-lighting ceremony, a number of inflatable characters and ornaments will be lit up for the holidays in the vacant lot that Hancock owns next to Majestic Park downtown.

Calling it an “enchanted forest type of thing,” Hancock said the lit-up display of inflatables was purchased using a donation. It will remain lit until after Christmas.

The Santa Hut will be set up at that same site, as well, although it will only be for display purposes and will not be used this year.

“We just thought it would be neat to have something extra special downtown for the kids,” Hancock said, “so that the kids can drive up and down Main Street and see a lot of color and activity going on.”

One of the lit-up inflatables will be Buddy the Elf. Hancock said she is considering offering a contest in which kids can take a photo with Buddy the Elf and submit it for a chance to win prizes for having the funniest photo, as voted on by the community on PRIDE in Paxton’s Facebook page.

Business open house
From Friday, Dec. 3, through Monday, Dec. 6, the annual Business Open House will be held at participating downtown businesses in Paxton. Bags containing coupons and other offers from those businesses will be distributed at the parade for the purpose of being redeemed during the Business Open House.