Christmas is welcomed in Decatur with parade

DECATUR — Military personnel often celebrate Christmas in foxholes or barracks or on the deck of a rolling ship 1,000 miles from loved ones and home celebrations, often writing in letters, “I’ll be home for Christmas.”

This was the theme for this year’s Decatur Christmas Parade and Santa Celebration sponsored by the Decatur Chamber of Commerce.

At 5:30 p.m. on Friday, decorated vehicles and floats gathered on the corner of Third and Main Streets in Decatur, ready for the start of the parade. At the same time, children and adults gathered in downtown Decatur waiting to see Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Suddenly, the normal quiet of downtown Decatur gave way to the sound of sirens as the Decatur Police and Fire Departments ushered in the 2018 Christmas parade.

This year’s event was one of the largest in the past five years with more than 25 decorated vehicles and trailers of all types with lights of different sizes, shapes and colors symbolizing the Christmas spirit.

With the Decatur High School Marching Band leading them in the parade, Santa and Mrs. Claus, who were sitting on the front bumper of a Decatur Fire truck, greeted young and old as

they brought up the rear of the parade.

After the parade, people gathered in the community room at Decatur City Hall to meet and greet Santa and Mrs. Claus. More than 75 children sat on the jolly old elf’s lap, conveying their lastminute Christmas wishes.

First Baptist Church of Decatur won the float contest for the best use of the parade theme. The Simmons Foods duo float combination won second place, with the Fellowship Full Gospel Church of Decatur earning an honorable mention.

The Decatur Chamber of Commerce house lighting contest judging continues through Thursday. This year’s judges include the executive committee from the Decatur Historical Commission.

The Decatur Chamber of Commerce expressed thanks to all the sponsors, volunteers and the community for making this year’s Decatur Christmas parade and Santa Celebration a big success.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS The Simmons chicken hands out candy to children along Main Street during the Decatur Christmas Parade through downtown Decatur Dec. 7. (See more photos on Page A5.)

Westside Eagle Obseerver/RANDY MOLL Making an appearance in Gentry’s Christmas Parade on Saturday was this reminder of the Griswold Family Christmas from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

Westside Eagle Obseerver/RANDY MOLL Winning the Judges Award and Main Street Award in Gentry’s Christmas Parade on Saturday was this float entered by the Bloomfield 4-H Club.

Westside Eagle Obseerver/RANDY MOLL The Girl Scouts of Gentry, Decatur and Siloam Springs were represented by this float in The Gentry Christmas Parade.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Part of the Simmons Foods float makes its way past the Iva Jane Peek Library during the Decatur Christmas Parade Dec. 7 in Decatur. This float, along with an elaborately decorated Simmons tractor-trailer truck, won second place in the Christmas Parade float contest.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS The Decatur High School marching band leads Santa Claus through the downtown area during the Decatur Christmas Parade Dec. 7 in Decatur.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Jazzi Lovitt (right) talks to Santa about her Christmas list as Mrs. Claus looks on during the Decatur Christmas Parade Celebration in the community room at Decatur City Hall Dec. 7.

Westside Eagle Obseerver/RANDY MOLL A group of neighbors from South Little Street passed out stuffed toys during the Gentry Christmas Parade on Saturday.

Westside Eagle Obseerver/RANDY MOLL Santa appeared in the bucket of a Gentry Fire Department ladder truck at the close of the Gentry Christmas Parade in downtown Gentry on Saturday night.

Westside Eagle Observer/MIKE ECKELS Mary Lou Janes (left) and the Decatur Girl Scouts ride their float in the Decatur Christmas Parade through downtown Decatur Dec. 7.