GRAVETTE -- A light rain fell throughout the evening Saturday as Gravette area citizens held their "I'll be home for Christmas" themed parade and enjoyed holiday events at the Gravette Historical Museum. Folks just donned warm jackets and hats, gloves and scarves or brought out umbrellas and carried on.
Gravette police chief Chuck Skaggs led the parade, followed by several Gravette emergency response vehicles and one of the city's firetrucks. They were followed closely by the Gravette High School marching band, dressed in colorful holiday finery and playing popular Christmas tunes as they marched along.
Some members of Gravette royalty rode in vehicles in the parade, including Torie Dixon, Miss Gravette 2016; Ella Scantlin, Miss Teen Gravette; Saydee Davis, Little Miss Gravette; and Kinsley Hurtt, Miss Benton County.
Several floats were entered in the parade. The Gravette United Methodist Church and Harvest Baptist Church both had entries. Harvest's float, a school bus posing as a troop transport vehicle, was preceded by a marcher carrying a sign that read, "Harvest is bringing Cousin Eddie home for CHRISTmas!" An Imagine Before and After School Care entry paid tribute to persons serving in the military, a Kiwanis Club and Key Club entry featured a sleigh driven by Santa Claus and Dynamic Rhythm Dance Studio's entry carried dance students from the studio. Members of the 2017 basketball homecoming court rode on another float.
Members of the Christian Crawlers 4x4 club drove several vehicles in the parade. The ATVs were decorated for the holidays and one carried a fresh-cut Christmas tree and a couple of trunks atop the roof.
Parade entrants followed the designated route to the museum where several activities were going on. Santa and Mrs. Claus were on hand in the museum annex to greet children and hear their Christmas wishes. Tables were set up in the annex's "schoolroom" where youngsters were able to make ornaments to put on a tree outside on the museum grounds. Most were edible ornaments to feed the birds. Hot cocoa and cookies were served to all who wanted them.
Bob and Sandy Kelley, dressed in period costume, posed as Mr. and Mrs. A.E. Kindley and greeted guests who toured the historic Kindley home. Each room in the house was decorated for the holidays with Christmas trees set up in the kitchen and in the front bedroom upstairs. A Santa suit was laid out on the bed in the downstairs bedroom just waiting for the jolly old fellow to get dressed.
Miss Lauren Leonard set up in the Kindley house music room and entertained guests by playing holiday tunes on her cello. Mike von Ree, one of the museum commission members, cooked up three big pots of chili. He sat at a table in the sunroom and served chili to museum guests while several other commission members assisted in the kitchen.
Several guests took their cups of chili outside and ate them as they stood around the fire blazing in the fire pit in the backyard. Lights twinkled in the windows of the Kindley house and on the outdoor Christmas tree as darkness fell and celebrants made their way home. Most agreed the evening's activities were a good way to kick off Gravette's holiday season.
Community on 12/07/2016