Central and southern Barry County youth will have no trouble spotting Santa Claus in coming weeks, as the jolly ole’ Saint Nick will be touring the county at 10 parades and events.
The parades kick off on Saturday in Washburn, Exeter and Cassville.
Washburn’s Christmas parade is set for 10 a.m., beginning at Washburn First Baptist Church and traversing Main Street before returning to the starting point. All-around trophies will be awarded for first, second and third place.
The annual Exeter Christmas Parade is set for 1:30 p.m. For more information, people may call Exeter City Hall at 417835-2823. The entry deadline has passed.
Cassville area Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Christmas Parade is scheduled for 6 p.m. Entrants may line up on Meadowbrook Drive below the football field as early as 4 p.m., entering from 14th Street. The parade will leave the staging area at about 5:45 p.m., turn left onto Partridge Drive and continue left onto Highway Y and left onto Main Street. The parade will end at Clover Drive, just past Casey’s General Store.
Morgan Williams said more than 100 entrants have signed up for the parade, including at least 25 floats. The deadline to enter passed on Nov. 24.
First-place trophies will be awarded in the following categories: Commercial, horsedrawn, marching bands, non-religious, religious, best-decorated single-vehicle unit, oldest vehicle and most unusual single-vehicle unit.
For those who cannot attend, Element 79 will be live streaming the event on Facebook, set up at the judges’ table in front of the historic Barry County Courthouse.
Cassville will also have a new event this year — Cassville Christmas on the Square.
The Dec. 8 event, organized by Caden Swearingen and Teresa Phillips, will be held at the Barry County Courthouse starting at 6 p.m., and it will include caroling by local talent and churches, free hot cocoa, cookies and children’s activities, as well as photos with Santa. People may bring a lawn chair to enjoy the ongoing music.
On Dec. 9, there are a pair of parades. The first is in Seligman starting at 2 p.m., beginning at the north end of town at Highway 37 and Business Highway 37 and traveling south to city hall.
Gift cards and trophies will be awarded in the following divisions: Christmas floats, band/ marching units, best motorcycle or off-road vehicle, best-dressed Grinch, best-dressed elf, best animal unit, best antique vehicle and best non-antique vehicle. Prizes of $50 ill be awarded for firsts and $25 seconds.
Following the parade, Santa will be at the Community Center to greet children and hand out treats, and refreshments will be available. Gift cards and trophies will be handed out when all points are tallied, and the winners of the Christmas lighting contest will be announced after the parade.
For the lighting contest, first prize is $100, second is $50 and third is $25. No registration is required, as all decorated houses in the city will be judged the nights of Dec. 6-8 until 9 p.m.
Later that evening, The Wheaton Winter Wonderland Christmas Parade in Wheaton has been scheduled for 6 p.m. Pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus will be in the community building from 4:30-5:30 p.m. and after the parade.
Parade entry forms are available at Wheaton City Hall, or online at www. cityofwheaton.mo.citygovt. org. For questions or more information, people may call 417-6523314 or email jogina@cityofheatonmo.org.
Trophies will be awarded for first, second and third places in seven categories. Line-up begins at 4:30 p.m. at Body of Christ Church.
The route is north on Highway 86 then east on Main Street, ending at the Wheaton school district.
The parade season will culminate in Purdy on Dec. 16 from 11 a.m. to noon. The route will begin at the Purdy school parking lot, with entrants lining up from 10-10:45 a.m., and it will end at Country Corner at Highway 37 and Highway C.
To enter, people may contact Julie Terry at 417-236-4139. There are no judges or prizes, and entries are still being accepted.
Candy will be thrown at each of the parades, and Santa will be the final unit at each, as well.
For those looking for other opportunities to see Santa, Mr. Kringle will also be at The Haven of the Ozarks Animal Sanctuary’s inaugural Paws with Santa Claus on Saturday and Dec. 9 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the facility, located at 9617 Farm Road 2190 near Exeter.
For a $20 donation, participants will receive digital photo emailed within 48 hours and sized for web media, photo prints or Christmas cards no larger than 4×6. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are recommended. People may call 417-835-3647 to reserve a photo session. People may also buy a chance to win gift baskets at $5 per chance, or five for $20. The drawing will be on Dec. 11, with winners notified by phone.
Pets should be leased at all times, and photo services are being donated by VanHook Photography, LLC, retired. All proceeds benefit Haven of the Ozarks and animals that do not have a home for the holidays.
The Cassville Branch Library will also host “Santa and Friends” on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. Participants can decorate a cookie with Mrs. Claus and take photos with Santa.
Later on Saturday, from 2-4 p.m., Santa will set up at the Bayless/ Salyer House at 9th and Townsend streets in Cassville for “Cookies and Milk with Santa. Children may take photos with Santa, and each child will receive a cookie to decorate and a small bag of Christmas Candy. For quiet time with Santa, people may make an early visit by calling Lynna at 417-852-9676 to set up a time between 1-2 p.m. The event is sponsored by the Barry County Genealogical and Historical Society.
Santa will also make an appearance on Dec. 14 at the Crowder College – Cassville Instructional Center from 4:30-6:30 p.m. The event will feature ornament decorating, a coloring station, hot cocoa, spiced cider, cookies and candy canes.
