FORT SMITH -Pandemic or no pandemic, Santa Claus is still coming to town. And towns in the River Valley are making sure their residents will be in the Christmas spirit when he arrives by scheduling many holiday events leading up to the jolly old elf’s arrival.
Here is a roundup of the forthcoming Christmas parades in the area.
Fort Smith’s Christmas parade has been canceled this year.
Greenwood
Greenwood Mayor Doug Kinslow and Greenwood Chamber Director Bob Purvis have announced that the annual Greenwood Christmas Parade, sponsored by Farmers Bank, will be held 7-8:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7 at Greenwood High School.
The parade will include the traditional floats, entries and of course Santa Claus. For 2020, the parade will come with a new twist; the parade will be a “reverse parade.” The parade will sit still and the spectators will drive by the floats and other displays. Spectators will enter the school grounds at the Daisy Street entrance and stay in their vehicles as they go past the parade.
Farmers Bank will provide each car with an extended handle butterfly net to hold out the passenger window. The parade participants will place the candy in the nets for the children. Each vehicle will get a sticker on the windshield as they enter the school grounds showing how many children are in the car.
Foot traffic through the parade area will not be allowed.
Watch the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce Facebook page for details as the date gets near.
Paris
The Annual Lighting Ceremony in Paris is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 27, at 7 p.m., to be followed by a Shop Small event the next day in support of the town’s merchants. The Christmas parade will be Nov. 28. Entertainment starts at Eiffel Tower Stage at 5 p.m. with relighting of the courthouse at 5:50 p.m. The route is from downtown Paris from Cloyes to Wilkerson’s Auto Sales. The grand prize float pays $300 to winner.
Main Street Paris will also be offering free horse and buggy rides from 4-7 p.m. on Dec. 5, 12 and 19 at Eiffel Tower Park. Participants are asked to wear a mask and practice social distancing while waiting in line.
This year’s Christmas parade with be a drive-thru event beginning at 6 p.m. at Paris High School on East Wood Street.
Toys for Tots will be hosting a toy drive at the parade and those going to the parade can donate to the toy drive if they so choose.
Santa Claus will be in his hut in downtown Paris Dec. 1-23 (except on Wednesdays and Sundays) from 3-7 p.m.
Main Street Paris is also hosting a Ladies Night Out from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 3, and a Gentlemen’s Nigh Out on Thursday, Dec. 10.
Booneville
The Christmas parade in Booneville will have a different look this year due to the coronavirus with organizers opting for a “reverse parade” on Saturday, Dec. 5, at 6 p.m.
Participating organizations in this year’s parade, which will feature a holiday movie theme, will be set up around the Booneville High School parking lot. Spectators will be directed to drive through the parking lot in their cars to view the stationary floats.
If the organizations decide to hand out any candy it will be collected and bagged by parade organizers and given out to spectators as they exit the parking lot.
Booneville will also be hosting a Holly Jolly Jingle and Mingle event in which customers will get one entry into a prize drawing for every $20 they spend at participating stores.
Charleston
The town of Charleston has many events planned, including its Christmas parade on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 5:30 p.m. This year’s route has been extended along Freedom Road to help spectators more easily observe social distancing guidelines.
“That’s what the town has decided to do and we’re very excited about it,” Heather Tygart said of the decision to have a parade this year. “We are urging everybody to be as cautious as possible and to mask up and practice social distancing.”