Hiwasse ushers in holiday season with Hallmark Christmas

HIWASSE — Residents of the Hiwasse area ushered in the holiday season with a Hiwasse Hallmark Christmas event Saturday evening, Nov. 30, at the Hiwasse Store. Sponsored by John and Julie Holloway, owners of the Hiwasse Store and Tri-State Propane, the event offered a number of activities for children and adults.

Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus arrived at the event at 5 p.m., riding in a horse-drawn wagon driven by Herbert Todd. They stepped down from the wagon and walked over to sit on the porch of a nearby building where they spent the evening listening to holiday wish lists of several children. Some of the youngsters wrote letters to Santa and placed them in a mailbox nearby.

Lights from a large decorated tree in front of the store shed their rays on the yard where children lined up to visit Santa. A smaller beautifully-decorated tree, with colorfully wrapped packages beneath it, was placed on the bandstand at the south end of the outdoor pavilion at the store. A wooden cutout decorated with a twin snowman design stood nearby and provided photo opportunities for those wanting a souvenir of the occasion.

Members of the Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church provided visitors with cups of warm apple cider and spiced wassail. Hiwasse Nazarene Church members served cups of hot cocoa. Cookies, cupcakes and mini candy canes were provided by employees of the Bank of Gravette.

Wendzi Henzie, from Henzie’s Art Studio in Gravette, was on hand and painted festive holiday designs on the faces of everyone who wanted the adornment. Seasonal carols were played during the evening, and many guests enjoyed the holiday music as they walked through the store, the pavilion and grounds visiting with neighbors and friends.

Westside Eagle Observer/SUSAN HOLLAND Dean and Wilma Fladager, of Bella Vista, pose with Carrie Dean, Zyla-Dell Dean and Cadence Dean, of Farmington, as they man the Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church booth at the Hiwasse Hallmark Christmas event. The church, where Carrie’s husband Brian is pastor, provided hot cider and wassail at the event.

Westside Eagle Observer/SUSAN HOLLAND A couple of young ladies take advantage of the photo backdrop to have their pictures taken as a lasting souvenir of Saturday evening’s Hiwasse Hallmark Christmas event. A young man peeks behind the photo booth while waiting for his turn. The photo booth was beside a beautifully decorated tree on the bandstand at the Hiwasse Store.

Westside Eagle Observer/SUSAN HOLLAND Wendzi Henzie paints a festive design on the face of young Yarelli Cruz, 10, of Gravette at the Hiwasse Hallmark Christmas event Saturday evening. Wendzi and her husband David are owners of Henzie’s Art Studio in Gravette. Several youngsters took advantage of her artistic talents to have their faces painted during the event.