Amongst more than 12,000 people Saturday night, Columbia came to life with the Christmas parade, music, lights and fun.
One of the new ice skating rinks was opened to the excitement of everyone and stayed busy the entire night.
Also, lighting of downtown was different this year: As the city was being lit up, everyone watched the rooftops where Santa jumped back and forth from Santa’s Workshop and Southern Grace. On the rooftop of Southern Grace with the help of two teenagers, Santa told the story of Christmas with a procession coming down Main Street, featuring Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, the wise men, shepherds and others setting the tone of the season. The procession was greeted with great joy.
Santa’s Workshop, inside the building on the southeast corner of Main and Second streets, also stayed busy with pictures with Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus plus a host of novelties for sale, sweets and a variety of hot chocolates.
Kristian Agoglia with Experience Columbia LLC and Looks Great Services said he was pleased with how well things went. He said he is hoping to have the second rink opened by this coming weekend.
The day began with the Columbia Gearheads Cruise-In. A total of 76 vehicles were entered. Everything from a Christmas-decorated Fiat to the Dukes of Hazzard General Lee was on display for the young and old to enjoy.
Jimmy Ward of Tylertown said, “It’s great. I’m enjoying this.”
Ward’s son, Jimmy IV, traveled from New Orleans for the event. “It is very nice,” he said.
Jimmy Ward IV was not the only one to travel to Columbia for the event; visitors came from Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, New York and other places. According to an Experience Columbia Facebook post, a family in Oak Grove was hosting a foreign exchange student from England and they brought her to Columbia to witness the event.
Throughout the day stores and food vendors were setting up for the big night. Some of the stores and food vendors were open for the Cruise-In. Food vendors of all kinds were offering different choices in food to the delight to everyone.
Once the vehicles were moved from Main Street, barricades were set up for the next big event: the annual Kiwanis Christmas Parade. Barricades were set up this year for safety reasons, such as to keep children from running into the parade traffic, and also it allowed the elderly and handicapped to be able to enjoy the parade.
Leading the way in the parade was Mayor Justin McKenzie riding on a wagon being pulled by the ever-popular Honey Island Clydesdale horses. Following McKenzie were members of the Mississippi National Guard 155th Brigade, who were the grand marshals of the parade. The 155th recently came home after being deployed overseas. The parade ended with Santa Claus riding in on a firetruck to the happiness of the children.
“I think the barricades made a big difference this year. We did not have to worry so much about people running into the parade traffic,” McKenzie said.
He also said it made a big difference in allowing everyone to see and enjoy the parade.
More than 76 entities participated in the parade. Taking first place with an Elf on the Shelf theme was Crown Laundry; second place went to St. Luke Home Health and Hospice and third place to Girls Scout Troop 3885. Honorable mention was awarded to VFW Post 5393 and Tease Salon.
This year a special category was added for the most patriotic float being the parade fell on Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day with Grace Missionary Baptist Church taking home the honors.
“The Kiwanis Club did a great job with the parade as usual. It seems like people are stepping up their game when it comes to the floats, too,” McKenzie said.
Adalyn Hilbun, 7, said her favorite part was the parade, while her sister Amber Fortenberry, 10, was excited about the lights.
Before Candlelight, Carols and Claus could get in full swing, Jacob Harrison with Experience Columbia announced Madelyn Langford had won a prize from something on social media. Once she made her way to the Christmas tree, she was told to cover her eyes and when Harrison told her to turn around to see what she won, Jeremy Newsom was on bended knee with a ring to propose. To the joy of everyone around, she said yes.
D.J. Don King took over providing music for the rest of the evening and setting the stage for dancing in the streets.
Shops stayed open extra hours for everyone to browse through as well as the food vendors.
Despite the large number of people downtown, Columbia Police Chief Michael Kelly reported there were no major incidents or problems.
The only thing was a couple of minor injuries which, the first responders quickly handled.
Experience Columbia is currently working on the hours for the skating rinks to be open during the week.
This coming weekend the theme is “A Cartoon Christmas.”
Cartoon characters will be downtown for pictures along with Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be in Santa’s Workshop from 5:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and from 3:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 17.
There will be a Christmas show starting at 6 p.m., and a light show at the top of the hour until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Stores and food vendors will be open late for guests.
Pictured Above: Jeremy Newsom surprises his girlfriend, Madelyn Langford, with a marriage proposal Saturday night during the Columbia Christmas events. Langford quickly said yes. It was a highlight of a night that included the annual Christmas parade and lighting of downtown. | Photo by Susan Amundson
