Weather gets last laugh on Holly Jolly Christmas
Staff writer
Heavy snow dampened holiday festivities planned Saturday in Marion.
Early activities went on as planned, but ultimately the lighted parade was canceled in mid-afternoon.
At 10 a.m., when Santa visits at Marion’s Library began, children came to see the fat man (who looked to have been on a diet this past year) with a sprinkling of snow on their hair and clothing.
By 11 a.m., they came in with heavier snow on their hair and coats. Parents removed their coats and brushed snow from children’s hair before they told Santa what they wanted for Christmas.
As long as Holly Jolly Christmas festivities lasted, downtown was a joyful scene.
Down 3rd St. at the Community Center, shoppers browsed Christmas gifts offered by local and area vendors while children got seasonal face painting from Megan Jones and families bought BBQ lunch from Bill and Essie’s BBQ, operated by Jones and her husband. The Grinch was a popular choice.
Already the snow was inches deep outside and community enrichment coordinator Margo Yates questioned whether weather would permit the parade to take place at 5:30 p.m. One year snow caused so many parade participants to stay home that only 15 parade entrants showed up, she said.
Next weekend, both Peabody and Hillsboro offer Christmas events. The weather forecast calls for scattered showers and 47 degrees.