The Auxvasse Annual Holiday Parade, which had been scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m., was canceled due to weather, but instead of forgoing the holiday festivities altogether, they just skipped …
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The Auxvasse Annual Holiday Parade, which had been scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m., was canceled due to weather, but instead of forgoing the holiday festivities altogether, they just skipped straight to the after-party.
Everyone was invited to the Auxvasse Community Center at 702 S. Main St. by the City of Auxvasse Park Board for pictures with Santa, hot chocolate, cookies and crafts as promised.
“I don’t think the rain hurt it at all,” says Eldora Lowry who was mixing up another batch of hot chocolate. “I think we’ll serve about 200 cups today.”
Hot Chocolate, coffee and water was provided by the Auxvasse Lions Club who were also passing out the cookies provided by Casey’s General Store and Show-Me Oil.
The Police Chief Robbie Harrison was passing out teddy bears to all the children who came in, setting up shop next to the Auxvasse Fire Department who passed out goodie bags full of candy.
The decision to cancel the parade was a tough one made by Mayor Red Wenneker, also head of the Park Board along with his wife Carrie who orchestrated the indoor event.
“This is sick weather; I would have still had the parade, but wet kids and wet candy just didn’t sound fun,” Carrie explains.
This is the Wennekers’ fourth year doing the event and it grows every year.
“We have a lot more people giving stuff out this year,” says Carrie. “We have three churches and the fire department and the police department and a lot more gifts to give out this year.
A line was wrapped around the community center, and children waited eagerly to see Santa and tell him what they wanted for Christmas. Each child also received a gift from Santa’s elves Jessica Delashmutt and Caleb Griffin.
The presents were donated by members of the community and purchased by the Parks Board.
There were also three local churches in attendance: Auxvasse Presbyterian, Auxvasse Christian Church and New Testament Christian Church who had an entire ornament painting station set up.
“I really didn’t expect this many kids!” says Michele Hanson, the pastor's wife. “I think we’re going to run out.”
As the rain persisted, children and their families continued to trickle in to the community center all afternoon, just happy to be there.A little rain couldn’t dampen Auxvasse’s holiday spirit
***Correction on 12/22/24 The Police Chief is Robbie Harrison***
