Christmas parade deemed success

By MARIDEE LAWSON

Friday, December 12, 2008 11:06 AM CST

It was a great evening for a holiday parade. Hundreds of people lined downtown streets for the Krekeler Jeweler's Christmas Parade. Participants included businesses with floats, antique vehicles, tractors, walking units, horses and fire trucks. The parade kicked off the opening of Winter Wonderland inside city hall. - Farmington Press photos by Maridee Lawson and Doug Smith

The Farmington Chamber of Commerce held its annual Krekeler Jewelers Christmas Parade early Monday evening and marked the opening of the city’s Winter Wonderland exhibit at Long Memorial Hall.

Parents and children waited in line to talk to Santa and Mrs. Claus following the parade. While they waited they could enjoy a horse and buggy ride around downtown courtesy of the city.

Following the parade the winners were announced. First place went to Unico Bank, second place to Great Clips, and third place to Cross Trails Cowboy Church.

The parade also marked the end of the annual chamber of commerce food drive.

“The (amount of food) was slightly down from last year, but not by much,” Chamber Director Ursula Kthiri said Tuesday.

Celebrations, an awards and trophy shop located downtown, held a barbecue Friday to help raise money and food donations for the local food pantries. This year the lunch raised about $965 in cash to help give to the food pantries and had a lot of canned food and boxed items donated.

Collected food from the chamber and Celebration’s efforts were divided equally between the community’s two food pantries.

Winter Wonderland will run from 6-8 p.m. week nights until Dec. 23.

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