Sarah Hendrix, daughter of Kyle and Holly Hendrix, has a hard time posing for a picture with Santa when that beard is just so intriguing. On Dec. 4, many children embraced the photo opportunity — and Santa himself — at Holyoke’s Country Christmas. Both before and after the parade of lights, a long line stretched through the Phillips County Museum while families waited their turn to see Santa and Mrs. Claus. — Johnson Publications
Seaboard Foods’ winning float in the Country Christmas parade of lights took the March of the Toys theme quite seriously. The trailer itself was transformed into the biggest Radio Flyer wagon Holyoke’s ever seen, and toys onboard ranged from building blocks to Barbie. — Johnson Publications
Community shares in Country Christmas
It was a cold Monday night for the Chamber of Commerce 2017 Country Christmas, and the people of Holyoke seemed especially grateful for the downtown businesses with extended hours and open houses. In the time surrounding the Dec. 4 parade of lights, families visited businesses, warmed up with the soup supper, went for hay rides and took pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
The March of the Toys parade saw Interocean Avenue lined with bundled-up spectators. The first-place float was created by Seaboard Foods and featured a giant wagon along with several other larger-than-life toys. Holyoke Girl Scouts came in second, followed by Holyoke EMS in the annual parade sponsored by PC Telcom and Highline Electric Association.
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