People presumably threw on an extra layer of clothing Monday night to watch the 2024 Twin City Area Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade, said Mary Zebrowski, the chamber’s executive director.
“I was very impressed with the spectators,” she said. “Even with the cold, we still had thousands. At the start of the parade, it was about 26 degrees.”
Zebrowski said she based her crowd estimate on the amount of candy distributed during the parade.
“We had 3,400 bags of candy for the Knights of Columbus clowns to give out to kids,” she said. “They said they gave out 2,800 bags. That’s just for kids, and each kid would have had at least one parent with them.”
Monday’s parade was the 75th version of the event, Zebrowski said.
As usual, the parade started in Crystal City and proceeded along Bailey Road, which becomes Main Street in Festus. The parade continued along Main Street, ending in front of the Festus Public Library.
Parade enthusiasts lined the sidewalks along the route, Zebrowski said.
The frigid temperatures did affect the number of parade units – floats, trucks, marchers, bands, emergency response vehicles and other entries – Zebrowski said, adding that she was still happy with the number of participants.
“We had 100 entrants to start out with (that registered),” she said. “We lost about 25 due to the cold, so we still had about 75 units. We definitely lost some marching bands, but a couple still came.”
She said the chamber did not give out parade awards this year, but she thought participants put a great deal of thought into their entries.
“The theme was ‘Christmas Through the Decades,’” Zebrowski said. “People seemed to like the theme. There were a lot of well-decorated floats.”
Zebrowski said she believes people enjoyed the event.
“It was a very good crowd, considering the cold,” she said. “I was really happy with how it went.”
Twin City Area Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade 2024
Tyler, Maggie, 5, and Kelsey Russell of Hillsboro brave the cold awaiting the arrival of the 2024 Twin Cities Christmas Parade
Hunter Pyle, 8, of Affton and Camden Jeude, 7, of Festus in their festive gear at the 2024 Twin Cities Christmas Parade.
Stuart McMillian and his daughter, Eleanor, 8, of Festus, at the 2024 Twin Cities Christmas Parade.
American Legion Post 253 members lead the 2024 Twin Cities Christmas Parade.
Festus Mayor Sam Richards makes his way down the 2024 Twin Cities Christmas Parade.
Joey, Everily, 3, and Abby Sousan of Bloomsdale take in the 2024 Twin Cities Christmas Parade.
The Crystal City Marching Band makes their way down Festus Main Street at the 2024 Twin Cities Christmas Parade.
Ezekiel Njoku, 3, of Festus dances alongside the Christmas parade.
Charlotte Schultz, 4, of Festus takes in the sights and sounds of the parade.
The Festus Tiger Marching Band makes its way down Festus Main Street at the 2024 Twin Cities Christmas Parade.
The Festus Tiger Marching Band makes its way down Festus Main Street at the 2024 Twin Cities Christmas Parade.
Dancers from several area dance teams perform and march.
The Festus state champion cross country team waves to the crowd as they make their way down Festus Main Street.
Miss Missouri Sweetheart, Collins Lauck, rides through the Christmas parade.
Santa Claus waves to the crowd on Festus Main Street.
Other parades
Those who couldn’t make it to Monday’s parade still have a chance to attend two more to be held in the southern part of the county over the next two Saturdays – the first in De Soto and another in Hillsboro.
■ The 96th annual De Soto Christmas Parade will be held along Main Street at 6 p.m. Saturday. The theme is “Nutcracker Christmas.”
The De Soto Chamber of Commerce sponsors the parade, which will start in front of Mahn Funeral Home, 900 N. Main Street, and proceed along Main Street to St. Louis Street and end at J.C. Culwell Stadium behind De Soto High School.
Sarah Greenlee, the chamber’s office coordinator, said the chamber expects to have about 100 units in the parade. Rose Yancey of Cherished Memories Florist & Hallmark Gold Crown will serve as parade grand marshal.
“She has been a staple in the community for years and we wanted to show our appreciation,” Greenlee said.
The chamber will bring Santa Claus.
The deadline to register a unit in the parade is Thursday. Entry is $15. To register, call the chamber at 636-586-5591 or email desotomo_chamber@yahoo.com or print out the form online at desotomochamber.com (search for parades).
At 6 p.m. Friday, the annual Tree Lighting at De Soto City Hall, 17 Boyd St., will be held.
Greenlee said the De Soto High School Choir will sing and Santa will make an appearance.
Free hot cocoa and cookies will be served.
Immediately after the tree lighting, the Nativity Walk on Main begins.
“Some of the stores have extended shopping hours,” Greenlee said.
There will be carriage rides offered along Main Street.
As part of the event, Santa will visit the Arlington Event Center, 207 E. Main St., from 6:30 to 8 p.m. where a Craft Vendor Fair is being held from 6-9 p.m.
If you don’t have a chance to visit Santa on Friday, he will be at the Mercantile @ Main, 602 S. Main St., from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, and at Heartland Realty’s new location at 122 S. Main St. from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19.
■ The Hillsboro Christmas Parade will begin at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14.
The event, sponsored by the Greater Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce, will start at Hawk Drive and proceed to Stadium Drive to Business 21. It will continue to Main Street and then run by Hillsboro City Hall before turning onto Vreeland Road and ending behind Hillsboro Intermediate School.
Parade coordinator Mandy Alley said the parade typically has about 50 entries.
She said the Christmas fun will continue after the parade at the Hillsboro R-3 School District’s Bridle Ridge Acres farm with the annual Community Christmas at the Farm event.
The farm event will have a Winter Wonderland in the hayloft, a fake-ice skating rink, decorated Christmas trees, photos with Santa, food trucks, hot cocoa and cookies, bonfires, games, farm animals and photo opportunities.
Alley said all chamber- and school-sponsored activities in the barn are free, but attendees may want to bring cash for the food trucks or for donations for school groups, such as sports teams and clubs.
She said the groups will decorate their own Christmas trees, and attendees may vote for their favorite tree by putting a dollar into a donation jar in front of each tree.
For more information, email hillsborochamberoffice@gmail.com, visit hillsborochamberofcommerce.com or visit the Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.