Last night was the Official Town Light Up. Our crews have been working for 2 weeks to get all the Christmas lights and fixtures ready to go downtown. Last night we hosted a celebration in our newly renovated downtown square. The streets filled with people and the Mayor flipped the switch to turn on all the lights at once. After the light up and the Christmas Carols in the church, people headed to Dayle's Department Store where they revealed their Christmas window displays and lights.
This morning I headed to the "Bethlehem Market" at another downtown Church. There were lots of treats and goodies to buy and all the workers were dressed as sheperds. Very cute, plus I got to see lots of people I don't regularly see. I think half the town was there. One booth was staffed by one of my favorite people. He retired from my office a few years ago and is just the loveliest person. His booth was selling hugs for 50 cents, but I got mine for free . . . . SWEET
And then tonight is the main event - SANTA is coming to town. Yes, it is the Annual Santa Claus Parade. Our Parade is held in the evening and all the floats are covered in lights. It is beautiful. I'm invited to a friends house for her Parade Party. She lives right on the parade route and each year we get a front row seat on her front lawn. Plus she has a huge buffet of treats and in case we get cold there is an ample supply of hot cocoa or coffee sweetened with Baileys. And you know how I love that !
I have to tell you a little story about the Santa Float. My office is responsible for Santa's float. About 5 years ago I was tasked with re-designing the town's float. Its kind of important to make sure Santa's ride is impressive. If I do say so myself - it turned out fabulous. His sparkly sleigh and the reindeer are on top of a roof and we even had a smoke machine so smoke would be coming out of the chimney. The night of the Parade that year I was so excited to see it make its debut. I stood out in the cold and waited patiently for the parade to end as Santa is the last float. All the other floats went by all brightly lit and festive. And then I saw our truck . . . . Santa was sitting on top of the float - - in darkness. We had put hundreds and hundreds of lights on this float. Darkness.
WTF ?? I got on the cell phone looking for answers. Apparently about 10 minutes into the parade route, the driver looked in his rear view mirror and the generator was on FIRE . . . . Can you imagine ? I guess you just can't prepare for everything. It's never happened again, plus we have a back up now. I can laugh about it now but I wasn't laughing about it at the time.
LOL!!! Oh, that is so funny. Poor Santa and Poor you, the generator caught on fire. That is the best story I ever heard. I love that your town sounds just like from It's A Wonderful Life, or maybe At Home In Mitford by Jan Karon. It just makes me so happy to hear you talk about your town.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful time this evening. Stay warm with your friend Baily. He always makes me feel better too. :)
Kim, your such a great ambassador for your little town. What comes to mind as I read your delightful story is the Christmas carol" O Little Town of Bethlehem "but I changed the name of the town.
ReplyDeleteO Llittle town of Amherst,
Who still we see thee lie,
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep .........
Yet in the dark street shineth
The everlasting light.
.....
What a delightful post. Thanks for getting me in the spirit. JB
Sorry about the typos JB
ReplyDeleteYour town sounds like something right out of one of the Hallmark Channel Christmas movies....I LOVE it! Our (nearest town that we claim) has gotten too large to really retain any of that old-fashioned charm. Love the float story...you've got a bit of Murphy's Law in your blood, don't you Girlfriend? ;o) Toast a Bailey's for me....Smiles & Hugs ~ Robin
ReplyDeleteOh, Kim,
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you live in a wonderful town! The department where I work is responsible for putting up the lights in our city. The guys have been working for weeks and even had to work today.
I love your Santa float story. I think Robin is right ~ you and Murphy must be related :)
Hugs :)
Lauren
I can't believe all the festivities going on in your town already. I'm still working on Thanksgiving dinner. Very funny story about the Santa float. I know you were so disappointed.
ReplyDeletePoor old Santa, and what a disappointment for you. My daughter lives in a small town, and I love the way that the community comes together for holidays. Some city folk may call it hokey, but it shows that these people care for each other and their town. No "March on Wall Street" types there.
ReplyDeleteThere is definitely nothing like a small town parade.
ReplyDeleteThanks for a good laugh. I'm sure you were heartbroken at the time, but it does make a funny story now!
It's nice to have a whole town involved in working toward the Christmas celebrations. You must live in a great community.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad there hasn't been any more float malfunctions!
Enjoy the festivities and the Bailey's.
Sounds so nice. Our parade is tonight also...I didn't go, but I bet it was nice. We are trying to revamp our downtown. The strip malls and Wal-Mart have killed this little towns shopping. No one wants to actually park and walk to a store and when I think of how it used to be when we first moved here it makes me sad. The empty store fronts are depressing! But hopefully the town will find ways to entice people to shop there again. Enjoy the evening and I have fun at your friends front row seat to the parade!
ReplyDeleteI love the stories of your town...even the little mishap stories...you must have been crazy when you saw that float...all dark! Have a great weekend!!
ReplyDeleteYour post brought to mind the scene in the movie "The Christmas Story" Ralphie and his brother Randy patiently waiting for the parade to end to go and visit Santa. A fire in the generator, wow, that is something you don't hear of everyday. I need to get through Thanksgiving before I can concentrate on Christmas! Have a great week, Julie.
ReplyDeleteKim sounds like a festive weekend! Could do without the fire though even if it was a few years ago. Did you say Bailey's?
ReplyDeleteThat's a great story about the float! I can't remember where you are but your town sounds so charming. I would love to have that kind of Christmas atmosphere and mood where I live!
ReplyDeleteKim, Your the best story teller. Your like a Garrison Keillor. Hugs Cheri
ReplyDeleteOh gosh...I wouldn't have been laughing about Santa being in the dark either! It's always great later though when you can look back on something like that and find humor in it!!
ReplyDeleteSounds like your town does Christmas the right way! A lot of friendly people just having a nice time with each other! Love the story of Santa's float! :-)
ReplyDeleteThat is funny - but I can see it felt horrid at the time - unique story! I wish more towns would do up Christmas windows like in the old days, people getting together, and good old fashioned fun!
ReplyDeleteWhat a funny story! Sounds like you live in a great little town!
ReplyDeleteCathy
What a funny story you have there to remember. Loved it. sandie
ReplyDelete