Washington welcomes Christmas

WASHINGTON—Christmas officially arrived in Washington Saturday thanks to a myriad of jolly holiday events around town.

The New Main Street Director Samantha Meyer enjoyed her part in Breakfast with Santa, the Jingle Bell Run, the Lighting Ceremony, and the lighted parade.

“Breakfast with Santa was fantastic,” Meyer said. “If you missed it, don’t worry, we also have Santa’s house coming up.”

“It is a cool, low-key event,” she said. “It is great for nervous kids. They can color first and then check out Santa and show him their color pages.”

Santa’s house will be open Dec. 3-4 and 10th from 1-4 p.m. at the old YMCA daycare center.

While some families were filling their bellies with a delicious breakfast, others participated in the Jingle Bell Fun Run hosted by Washington High School’s Track Club.

Before the lights turned on downtown, the traditional radio play drew a small crowd to watch “Holiday Affair” in the public library windows.

Meyer asked the large gathering of people to quietly take in the names of those remembered and honored with the Lights of Love trees.

“It was beautiful to see Central Park just full of people and families as we got ready to read the names of the families,” she said.

A total of 91 trees lit the square this holiday season. Each tree is decorated to uniquely represent individual people, families, or groups.

Crowds slowly walked throughout Central Park to read the names and admire the beautiful decorations.

“Santa Claus is coming to town!” an enthusiastic first grader, Olivia Klein, shouted as she ran through Central Park.

Olivia, her brother, Noah, and Dad, Kevin, were just a few among a large crowd, downtown.

“Santa is gonna come and maybe even a parade,” Olivia said.

“All the lights are going to turn on,” Noah added, though he is not convinced it is actually Christmas time, yet. “It is still November.”

For the first time, Meyers called Santa and Mrs. Claus to the stage to light the square.

“Elves, light up the North,” Mrs. Claus and an excited crowd called out as the lights along the top of the buildings on the North side of the square lit up.

The South, East, and West all lit in the same manner and brought a sense of holiday magic to Washington.

Meyers’ 5-year-old daughter, who, according to Meyers, thinks she is now best friends with Santa, has attempted to nail down just how the magical lighting occurs.

“She is trying to get me to tell her all our secrets,” she said. “I told her that maybe she could help we she was a little older.”

With well-shaken jingle-bells, sweetly decorated memorial trees, and brightly lit roof-tops, the annual Lighted Christmas Parade officially welcomed Santa and Mrs. Claus to town.

Alice Lovegreen, 4-year-old from Crawfordsville, was excited to finally spot Santa in the Lighted Parade.

“Alice, It’s Santa!” her mother exclaimed. “You’ve been looking for him all day!”

Meyer’s felt all the events went really well and would like to invite everyone back to Downtown Washington throughout the month of December.

“We have retail events coming up like Hot Deals with Hot Drinks and the Ugly Christmas Sweater Crawl,” she said.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com