Breakfast with Santa and the 36th annual Christmas Parade will be kicking off the holiday season on Saturday.
Breakfast with Santa will be held from 8 to 11 a.m., Dec. 3, followed by the Christmas Parade at 5:30 p.m. Both events are sponsored by the Heritage League of Siloam Springs.
Elizabeth Smith, Heritage League president-elect, described breakfast with Santa as a magical experience for children, with bright decorations and plenty of fun.
"It's a great way to kick off the Christmas season," she said.
During the event, kids will get a chance to make crafts, sit on Santa's lap and get their picture taken with the jolly old elf. They will also get to write a letter to Santa, and will receive a reply in the mail some time after the event, Smith said. The Heritage League will be serving a light breakfast of cereal and milk, with toppings.
"Santa is really intentional about spending time with the kids," she said. "He knows it's really important to be there and make them feel valued."
Breakfast with Santa is one of the Heritage League's four annual fundraisers. The community service club uses the money raised to support one organization each year, and to provide food and gifts for three or four families to have Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. Last year the Heritage League raised money for Evan Thomas Foundation. This year the club is raising money for the local Fraternal Order of Police, which provides programs such as Shop with a Cop.
Tickets for Breakfast with Santa, which cost $10 per child, are selling out quickly, Smith said. Locations where tickets can be purchased are listed on posters and the Heritage League website; however Creative Corner on Broadway is the only location that still had tickets on Wednesday, Smith said.
Christmas Parade
The 36th annual Christmas Parade will begin with musical entertainment and the annual lighting of the downtown Christmas lights, according to Smith. Between 5 and 5:15 p.m., a choral group from Siloam Springs High School will be singing on the steps of the Old Post Office on Broadway Street and two local dance groups will perform in the street in front of the Old Post Office. The mayor will then wave his magical candy cane to light up the Christmas lights, Smith said.
The parade will begin at the Middle School and make its way down West Tulsa Street to South Mount Olive Street, then head down East Jefferson Street, South Maxwell Street and North Broadway Street, before turning on University Street to make its way back to the Middle School via Holly Street.
Smith said the weather forecast for the day of the parade looks great and she is hoping mild temperatures encourage people to attend. There will also be a chance for people to see all the downtown improvements, which will be finished in time for the parade, she said.
"We're excited about the parade... We're hoping for a big turnout," she said.
Local organizations can enter floats in the parade through Nov. 28, Smith said. Entry fees are $30 for those who would like to be judged for prize consideration and $10 for those who would not like to be considered for prizes. Equine entries are free, but will not be judged. Participants can submit their entries online at www.siloamspringsheritageleague.com.
General News on 11/27/2016