Holiday spirit is set to sweep across the Golden Triangle this week with Starkville, Columbus and West Point gearing up for tree-lightings and Christmas parades.
Festivities will kick off first in Columbus with a tree lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Sunday on the lawn adjacent to the Tennessee Williams Welcome Center at the intersection of Main Street and Third Street.
Caroling by the Hunt Harmony Choir will start the event, followed by the tree lighting at 6 p.m., where cookies and hot chocolate will be served by the Mayor’s Youth Council.
The following day, Columbus’ “Christmas in Paradise”-themed parade will make its way through downtown beginning at 7 p.m. at Roger Short Soccer Complex.
Between 40 and 50 entries including floats, antique cars, beauty queens and more will march through the town, all led by Columbus Municipal School District Trustee Josie Shumake as the grand marshal.
Main Street Columbus Executive Director Barbara Bigelow said she’s looking forward to the festivities.
“There’s a festive energy downtown, and we’re looking forward to bringing people together at this special time of the year to showcase the best of what we have to offer,” Bigelow wrote in an email to The Dispatch. “Hopefully, everyone will enjoy the music provided by our new speaker system while they stroll the beautiful streets of downtown Columbus. We wish everyone a fabulous holiday season!”
The parade will march from the soccer complex down Main Street, before turning at 14th Street South to come back up College Street. Barricades will begin going up at 4 p.m. for parade staging, with more street closures following the parade’s route at 5:30 p.m.
Caledonia’s “Storybook Christmas” parade will begin at 6 p.m. Dec. 6 with lineup beginning at 4 p.m. The parade will start at Caledonia Elementary School and will wind through town and down Main Street with barricades to Wolfe Road, South Street and Main Street going up at about 5:30 p.m., said coordinator Jackie Savage.
“We’re looking at a good-sized parade this year,” Savage told The Dispatch on Wednesday. “People seem to be very excited about it, and I’m ready for it.
Starkville
Starkville’s Christmas Parade will kick off at 6 p.m. Monday with more than 94 entries and 30 floats following the theme “Building Christmas Cheer,” all of which will be led by the Starkville-Oktibbeha Consolidated School District and its administrators as this year’s grand marshal.
Paige Watson, director of Main Street for the Greater Starkville Development Partnership, said downtown stores are already showing their Christmas spirit.
“I think so many of our stores have gotten into the spirit,” Watson told The Dispatch. “There’s some really pretty Christmas displays, and I think everybody’s kind of getting into the spirit. It’s always going to be a super exciting Egg Bowl week.”
In keeping with the theme, this year’s parade route differs slightly from previous years due to the ongoing Main Street Revitalization Project.
The parade will start on Russell Street and move through University Drive and Main Street before turning left onto South Jackson Street, where the parade will end. Road closures, including the intersection of Russell Street and Fellowship Street, will begin at 5 p.m.
West Point
Festivities will make their way to West Point next week with a tree lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. Dec. 5 at the city park, located next to City Hall at 580 Commerce St. From there, attendees will be invited to the Black Prairie Blues Museum at 640 Commerce St. for cookies, hot chocolate and Christmas crafts with Santa.
West Point’s “Holly Jolly Christmas” parade will roll through town beginning at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 8. The parade will start at Bryan Public Library on Commerce Street and will make its way through Main Street to end at Fresh Value Grocery Store. Barricades will go up at 6 p.m.
This year’s grand marshal will honor artist and former executive director of West Point’s Chamber of Commerce Louise Campbell, who passed away in May. Her children, Julie Gray and Critz Campbell, as well as the West Point Arts Council will lead the parade.
Director of the West Point Clay County Growth Alliance Lisa Klutts said she’s looking forward to celebrating the holiday season.
“It’s just always exciting to decorate downtown and the highway … and see everyone else get excited about how West Point lights up with Christmas lights,” Klutts told The Dispatch on Tuesday. “Everybody leaves the Christmas parade so full of holiday spirit, and they’re all just happy.”
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You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 29 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
