About 1,000 people turned out Dec. 11 to watch the 16th annual House Springs Lions Club Christmas Parade, said Kim Fanter, the parade chairperson.
This year’s theme was “Lighting up House Springs in Honor of Karen Hollandsworth.”
Parade organizers decided to memorialize Hollandsworth, a longtime House Springs resident who died of COVID-19 on Jan. 11, because she had the idea to start the parade.
“The whole thing was started to bring the community together, and even though it (this year’s parade) was smaller than it has been in the past, there was a well-lit parade in Karen’s honor and she would have been really proud,” Fanter said.
The parade was not held last year because of the pandemic.
Fanter said more than 30 groups entered this year’s parade, which started at 7 p.m. at the Faith Community Church parking lot and proceeded to Conrad Smith Drive onto Dulin Creek Road and then to Hwy. MM, ending at the intersection with Hillsboro-House Springs Road.
Fanter said her favorite part of the parade was Fredbird’s appearance.
“The fact that we got Fredbird was kind of the icing on the cake because (Hollandsworth) always loved him,” Fanter said. “He was awesome. He remembered coming years ago and he remembered Karen.”
After the parade, people visited with Santa at the former House Springs Lions Club building, which was sold over the summer. Hot chocolate and cookies were served.