Willow Springs carries out Christmas festivities with cinematic flourish
Jetta the red-nosed "reinhorse" gave Ashley Ledbetter, at the reins, and passenger Graycie Tackitt a lift at the Willow Springs Christmas Parade. Despite heavy drizzle, the parade proceeded through downtown Willow Springs and was organized by the Willow Springs Chamber of Commerce.
STAFF PHOTOS / KIMBERLY LANGSTON
Buddy the Elf and friends were represented on this Willow Springs Chamber of Commerce float, making spirits bright despite cold drizzle that started at the beginning of the parade. The parade, themed "Christmas at the Movies," was held Saturday evening as the finale of a day's worth of Christmas activities in downtown Willow Springs. From left are Jace Rogers, Paxton Tooley, Brittney Collins and Robert Hollis.
Willow Care Nursing Home entered this "Grinch" float in the movie-themed Willow Springs Christmas Parade Saturday evening. Kyle Dodson is costumed as the mean one himself and Makenzie Smith joined him as Cindy Lou Who.
This float with a "Buddy the Elf" theme, entered by West Plains Special Olympics, won third place in this year's Willow Springs Christmas Parade, organized by the Willow Springs Chamber of Commerce. The overall theme of the parade was "Christmas at the Movies."
Saturday's Christmas activities in Willow Springs included an art show and wreath display and contest sponsored by the Willow Springs Arts Council. The show took place at the Ferguson Building and the public was invited to judge the wreaths on display and place bids on them as a fundraiser for WSAC. From left: Shelter Insurance volunteer Brittney Collins, Willow Springs Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kim McCormick, arts council Vice President Wendy Parker and Shelter Insurance volunteer Kim Blankenship.
Willow Springs Christmas activities included an invitation from the Willow Springs Chamber of Commerce to add holiday light and decoration displays as entries in the Let it Glow Christmas light contest, open to all city residents and businesses. People and businesses can still enter through Friday by emailing a photo of the light display to willowspringschamber@gmail.com. Winners of residential and commercial categories will be announced Monday. This display, for example, is at the corner of North Ferguson and West Third Street in Willow Springs.
"Christmas at the Movies" was well-represented by this first-prize-winning float entered by Bear Crossing Truck Wash and Tire Center, Coastal-FMC and On the Floor Dance Studio. It features oversized popcorn containers, balloon arches and a snow machine. The parade, held Saturday, was organized by the Willow Springs Chamber of Commerce.
