Christmas parades, holiday events planned for weekend

The Forrest City Community
Christmas Parade on Friday night
will kick off a weekend of events
designed to get everyone in the
holiday spirit.
The parade, funded by the
city’s Advertising and Promotion
Commission, is scheduled to
begin at 7 p.m. It will line up and
leave from the Forrest City Civic
Center, travel south on
Washington, turn right onto Hill
Street and end at the parking lot
on Grant Street.
This year’s theme is “Winter
Wonderland,” and Joey Astin,
executive director of the St.
Francis Area Developmental
Center, will serve as grand
marshal.
The parade will again feature a
competition for best floats in
several categories. The floats will
be judged prior to the parade so
that winners may display their
trophies along the parade route.
Parade entrants must be in
place no later than 6 p.m., to
compete. Those who arrive late
will still be allowed to participate
in the parade but will not be
judged.
Floats will be divided into four
categories: industrial/commercial,
churches, civic groups and novelty.
First, second and third place
trophies will be awarded in each
category.
Currently, only about 50
entries are scheduled to
Hilary J. Trickey • Times-Herald
Organizers prepare for Forrest City’s newest Christmas event, a
“Very Inflatable Christmas,” which will take place Friday night
after the parade in the lot behind Stevens Funeral Home. The
event will feature over 40 inflatable displays, letters to Santa,
hot chocolate and music. Volunteers Brandy Maxwell, left, and
Sherry Astin work to install one of the displays.
WEATHER
participate in the parade, but
Chamber officials said they expect
that number to increase this week
“We expect to receive several
more entries this week,” said
Chamber officials.
The parade lineup is scheduled
to be printed in Friday’s Times
Herald.
Immediately after the parade,
“A Very Inflatable Christmas” will
be held behind Stevens Funeral
Home.
Families are invited to walk
through displays, visit with Santa
and enjoy other holiday events
planned for the inflatables park.
Christmas festivities will held
on Saturday in Palestine,
beginning with the annual
Downtown Christmas Festival at 4
p.m., followed by the Christmas
parade.
Michelle Garner, who is in
charge of this year’s downtown
festival, said there will be a lot of
things for people to enjoy prior to
the start of the parade and even
after the parade ends.
The downtown area from the
medical clinic to Crazy Donkey
and Wood Street in front of the old
Palestine-Wheatley gym will be
blocked off for the activities, so
motorists should plan to avoid
that area.
“We have a lot of things
booked until 9 p.m.,” said
Gardner. “When the parade is
over, we’ll still have the synthetic
ice skating rink open and carriage
rides taking place.”
Garner said due to the
popularity of the ice skating rink
last year, the city booked a larger
one this year, which will be set up
in the parking lot at Crazy Donkey.
“We’ll have camel ride and
pony rides along with three
carriages giving rides this year,”
said Garner. “All of these activities
will be placed in the grassy area
on the school property.”
Garner said there will also be
several inflatable slides along with
numerous vendors selling t-shirts,
hats and homemade items for the
holidays. Food trucks will also be
on site.
Santa and Mrs. Claus will also
be in attendance throughout the
event. Photos with the busy
couple will be available for
purchase.
Those attending the event are
encouraged to park in the gravel
lot behind the amphitheater.
Overflow parking will be available
at Cumberland Presbyterian
Church and the Church of Christ,
according to Garner.
The parade, which begins at 7
p.m., will follow its traditional
route. The parade will leave from
Triple G on Highway 70 and travel
east to Main Street where it will
turn left at the First National Bank
of Eastern Arkansas branch. The
parade will continue along Main
Street before turning left on Wood
Avenue, continuing west to Parker
Street and traveling back to
Highway 70 where it will end at
the Triple G parking lot.