The square in Hamburg was aglow on the first evening of December, thanks to members of Hamburg Economic Development Team’s newly formed Christmas Committee.
The members of that committee have been spending a great deal of their time creating a welcoming space for locals and visitors alike this holiday season.
Evan Owens of HEDT said, “I personally felt the night went amazing. It truly encompassed the small town Christmas festival that many see in movies and read about in books.”
Owens commended the Christmas Committee and Hamburg Area Chamber of Commerce “for making this Hamburg Holidays one to remember,” and acknowledged the selfless effort they put forth for their community as volunteers.
Participants in the Little Red Wagon Parade lined up early on the south side of the square on Mulberry Street.
The daylight was already long gone, so the lights that were used to decorate some of the wagons were clearly visible, and managed to distract some of the little ones while they attempted to wait patiently.
Parents, grandparents, and other well-wishers gathered around the group to make last minute adjustments to the wagon decorations, and capture last minute pictures with their little ones before the parade started.
The Little Red Wagon Parade gives parents an opportunity to help their children ages five years and younger participate in the holiday celebration with their community.
The parents decorate the wagons for the parade in different ways; this year’s entries included wagons that looked like presents, a Cinderella-style lighted carriage, and one participant dressed up as Santa Claus.
As the time for the parade drew near, the crowd that was spread out across the square began to line up along the parade route.
The Little Red Wagon Parade participants passed by the judges’ table at the start of the route before completing their procession around the square, cheered on by the people they passed.
Some of the children waved and threw candy from their wagons, while the tiniest parade participants made their first trip around the square look easy by sleeping through it.
First place in the Little Red Wagon Parade went to Flint and Stetson Flemister for their Thomas the Train wagon; second place was awarded to Taelynn Davis who portrayed a lineman in a wagon made to look like an Ashley-Chicot Electric Cooperative power truck; in third place was Winn Williams with his John Deere themed wagon adorned with green lights.
Thanks to the traditional Christmas Parade the little ones weren’t the only ones who got to decorate their rides for the holidays. The floats in this year’s parade ranged from a hatchback made to look like a wind-up car to those that were elaborately decorated to reflect holiday themes and sentiments.
Trinity Freewill Baptist Church received $200 for their first place win; Calvary Baptist Church won $100 for second place; and Dedicated Logistics took home $50 for third place.
Before the parades began, there were plenty of activities taking place on the square to keep everyone entertained.
There were opportunities to send a letter to Santa, make reindeer food, and decorate cookies or ornaments. A horse-drawn carriage was also available for taking a ride in the area surrounding the square.
The efforts by the Chamber and the Christmas Committee paid off for the people of Hamburg, who will be able to spend the next month enjoying the serenity of the square as they move forward during this holiday season.
