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Holly-Jolly crowds filled downtown Mt. Pleasant
Holiday on Main and the lighted parade saw huge crowds downtown Thursday night
MT. PLEASANT — Holiday festivities in downtown Mt. Pleasant not only drew large crowds thanks to new attractions, additional lighted parade entries, and unseasonably warm weather.
Dawning light winter gear and large smiles, the community flocked to the square to welcome Santa Claus to town via the Mt. Pleasant Chamber of Commerce’s traditional lighted parade.
While the lighted parade is always a sight to see, Main Street Director Lisa Oetken said it was significantly larger with over 60 entries this year.
Of the many entries showing off their best “Favorite Christmas Song” themed parade entries, Midwest Old Threshers’ 22 foot tall Frosty the Snowman took the cake for this year’s Best Community Entry.
Myers Tree Farm snagged Most Festive entry with a brightly lit station wagon carrying a large Christmas tree, and Mt. Pleasant Municipal Utilities earned Best Lighted entry with their brightly illuminated boom truck.
Much like the parade, Oetken said the following festivities of Holiday on Main grew considerably this year.
“It’s a lot bigger and a lot warmer,” Oetken said. “We do have a lot more activities, too.”
According to Oetken the whole event was different, not just because of the wonderful weather.
The Holiday on Main activities spanned the majority of downtown with 27 attractions making the map.
Oetken says she is proud of all the businesses that participated in the event this year, whether they are new to Holiday on Main or a staple.
“From letters to Santa to letters to soldiers, it’s just a lot more holiday spirit, and it just feels different this year,” Oetken said with a large grin. “People really stuck around after the parade and are just enjoying the activities. I think it’s a great night, and it’s a great community. I love when I see the community support the downtown.”
At Central Park those celebrating the holiday season enjoyed music from Mt. Pleasant Community School District’s sixth grade band, photos and conversations at Santa’s house with the big man himself, and photos with miniature cows.
“The miniature cows bring people,” Oetken said.
Oetken’s daughter Olivia Blackford, who owns Backroad Shenanigans, sells a lot of merchandise with Highlander Cows on it.
So, as the event got closer, Blackford used her connections and Backroad Shenanigans sponsored bringing miniature cows to the square for the holiday festivities.
Some of the other activities throughout downtown included letters to Santa at Brown’s Shoe Fit, an art show at Main Street Art Gallery, live music at Meraki Day Spa, letters to soldiers at Quilter’s Paradise, and Bingo at Central Park Coffee.
“Because it is Christmas Bingo, we thought it’d be fun to start it off with a couple of jokes,” Bingo Caller Liz Gevock started.
“What do you call a snowman in Florida?” Gevock asked the crowd.
“Just water,” one young participant quickly answered.
Following a few more jokes and a spattering of laughter, Gevock happily called out numbers as guests at the coffee shop excitedly called out Bingos and collected prizes of candy, cookies, or holiday trinkets.
Aria Lane belted out sweet Christmas songs just down the road and around the corner outside of Meraki Day Spa as event guests enjoyed cranberry mules, warm cider, and snacks just inside.
Across the street groups clambered aboard horse drawn carriage rides as they enjoyed the unseasonable warmth of a 50-degree December evening in Iowa.
Many other spots around Central Park offered festive food and drinks as the sound of Christmas songs came from not only the band, but also jolly yuletide celebrators singing carols as they made their way from one stop to the next.
Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com
