GRAVETTE -- Folks in Gravette kicked off the Christmas holiday in grand style with a "Come Home for Christmas" theme celebration on Saturday. Events began with the annual Christmas parade which was held at 4 p.m., followed by activities for young and old at the Gravette historical museum.
Police chief Andy Bower led off the parade with blue lights flashing and sirens screaming on his police car. He was followed by several Gravette emergency vehicles, both ambulances and police cars. Fire engines from nearby Maysville and Sulphur Springs also came to town to join the parade.
Following closely behind the emergency vehicles, were members of the Gravette High School marching band. Clad in festive holiday clothing and stepping smartly along, they played a variety of holiday music for the crowds lining the streets. Several churches entered floats in the parade, including the United Methodist Church, the Beacon Baptist Church and Berean Ministries, which all featured various nativity scenes, and the Harvest Baptist Church, which took onlookers back to movie night at the drive-in.
Speed Estep, former Gravette police chief, and his wife pedaled along the parade route in a unique carriage constructed using a pair of bicycles and festooned with tinsel and bells. Members of several motorcycle clubs came roaring down the street, with many bikes and bikers colorfully decorated for the holiday. Sturdy four-wheel drive vehicles driven by members of the Christian Crawlers 4 x 4 Club appeared to be ready to make a trek to the mountains for a holiday vacation.
Gravette royalty joined the parade when Damayla Cowan, Miss Gravette 2015, and Teagan Dixon, Miss Teen Gravette 2015, pulled into line. Cast members from the Gravette High School drama club's "A Christmas Carol" rode on a float, giving a preview of their performance later that evening. Even a politician made an appearance when justice of the peace candidate, Bob Bland, entered a float and walked along beside it handing out strands of red beads to the ladies.
The Kiwanis Club float advertised the club's mission of "inspiring children and serving our community," and several local businesses promoted their services, including Benton County Realty, Imagine Before and After School Care and the Gravette Eye Clinic, which was celebrating its first Christmas in Gravette. Larry Jones, from Grumpy's Peace, Love and Coffee shop brought along his black Lab, Midnight, who seemed to be enjoying the parade tremendously.
Children had been scrambling to pick up candy and treats thrown from many of the floats, but finally came the fellow they'd all been waiting for, Santa Claus, and the excitement went up even higher as they all tried to wave and shout greetings to the jolly fellow as he passed. Then, harking back to a slower time, a trio of horse- and mule-drawn vehicles brought up the rear of the parade. Two wagons and a carriage, colorfully decorated for the holidays, were a fitting conclusion to a parade with a theme of coming home for Christmas as they brought back memories to those who, a generation or so ago, might have traveled home in just such vehicles.
The parade route wound around to the Gravette Historical Museum on Charlotte Street, where Santa set up shop in a room in the museum annex. Long lines of youngsters waited their turn to go in and tell him their wishes. Miss Gravette and Miss Teen Gravette were also on hand there to give each child a candy cane. Hot chocolate, provided by the Billy V. Hall Senior Activity Center, was served to those waiting in line; and cookies, provided by the Bank of Gravett, were served both in the annex and at the Kindley House. Members of the museum commission helped at a craft table where children were able to create edible ornaments using pretzels, Cheerios and other cereal. Others made cranberry garlands or coated pinecones in Crisco and birdseed, which they placed on an outdoor tree to feed the birds in coming days.
Bob and Sandy Kelley dressed in vintage clothing and played the role of Mr. and Mrs. Kindley as they greeted guests and ushered them into the Kindley home for tours of the colorfully decorated rooms. Cole and Lauren Leonard set up in the music room and played a variety of Christmas music on their cellos. A campfire burning in the backyard provided warmth for those who needed it. And Mike von Ree, assisted by museum commission chairman, John Mitchael, served up cups of his homemade chili under a canopy nearby.
Members of the drama club at Gravette High School, dressed in costume, mingled with the crowd and provided a preview of their performances that evening and Sunday afternoon. Many in the crowd left the Kindley House and drove to the GHS performing arts center for the Saturday evening production.
General News on 12/09/2015