(Right photo) A record 34 people participated in this year's event supporting The Call in Cleveland County. CITY OF RISON ADDS CHRISTMAS FUN TO POCKET PARK -
RISON - For anyone needing to get into the holiday spirit, there will be plenty of opportunities to do so in Cleveland County this week. The festivities will kick off with the annual Cleveland County Christmas Parade this Thursday night followed by the debut of the Pioneer Village Holiday Lights display. There are also two holiday events scheduled for this Saturday: Winter Fest at Powell Park in Rison and the Kingsland Community Christmas Program at Kingsland City Hall.
Meanwhile, the New Edinburg Community Center will be hosting Santa on Dec. 15-16 and Re-New-ing Edinburg is sponsoring a "Lost in New Edinburg at Christmastime" photo contest that will continue through the end of the month.
Here is an overview of each event:
Party in the Park County Christmas Parade Christmas Tree Contest
Rison Shine has organized two events for the Christmas season this year: Party in the Park and the Cleveland County Christmas Parade. Both will be taking place back-to-back this Thursday evening in Rison.
Festivities begin with the Party in the Park from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at FBT Community Park in downtown Rison. Vendors selling items and promoting non-profit causes will be set up in the park. Vendor space is free and walk-up vendors are welcome but will need to bring their own table and chairs.
Rison Shine will be giving away hot chocolate during the event while the City of Rison has put up two Christmas cutouts for photos. One is a single cutout featuring a snowman while another is a three-person cutout with Rudolph, Santa and an Elf.
City of Rison Mayor Charles Roberts and his wife Connie, along with Utilities Manager Joe Freyer, installed two Christmas photo cut-outs to the FBT Communtiy Pocket Park Tuesday. Mayor Roberts collaborated with two Rison High School groups to create the decorations. The RHS Agri students cut out the pieces and the RHS East Lab students painted the artwork.
In addition, Greg and Lynda Jaggers of Real Estate Solutions are sponsoring the "Deck Your Home" miniature Christmas tree decorating contest. The contest is for pre-decorated Christmas trees measuring two feet or less in height. Entries must be turned in between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. Thursday at FBT Community Park. Gift cards will be awarded to the winners.
The 2023 Cleveland County Christmas Parade is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. And will travel a path along Main Street from the Green House Cottages of Southern Hills to the downtown area.
Douglas Boultinghouse with Rison Shine said they are expecting 20 or more floats this year, making it one of the largest since the parade was revived several years ago. He also said kids of all ages are invited to decorate their bicycles to ride in a special section of the parade. Anyone under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult.
Gateway Bank will sponsor prizes for the best floats and bikes. In the float category, prizes are $100 for first place, $50 for second place and $25 for third place. In the bicycle category, prizes are $15 for first place and $10 for second place.
Parade participants will gather at the Yaney Street gate of the Pioneer Village around 6:40 p.m. and make their way through the Green House Cottages of Southern Hills before heading north on Main Street.
Registration is not required for the parade in advance.
Santa will arrive at FBT Community Park after the parade and will mingle in the park for photos and cocoa.
Pioneer Village Holiday Lights Drive-Through
The Pioneer Village at Rison will debut its drive-through light display after the Cleveland County Christmas Parade on Thursday night.
The display will also be open from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 8-9; and on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 15-16.
Admission is free, but donations are appreciated at the exit.
Winter Fest at Powell Park
Powell Park will host a Winter Fest Soup and Chili Cookoff beginning at 3 p.m. this Saturday, Dec. 9.
The festival will include door prizes and pictures with Santa. The cookoff will include a People's Choice judging and cash prizes will be awarded to the winners.
Vendors are welcome for the event.
For more info, contact Red at (870) 395-0005, Penny at (501) 681-8214 or Tavaris at (870) 643-2438.
Kingsland Christmas Program
The Busy Bee Crafters of Kingsland Extension Homemakers Club will be hosting a Kingsland Community Christmas program from 5 to 7 p.m. this Saturday, Dec. 9, at Kingsland City Hall.
Festivities will begin with a countdown to lighting up the Kingsland Christmas light display followed by games, singing Christmas carols, refreshments and a visit from Santa. Everyone is invited to attend.
New Edinburg Christmas with Santa The New Edinburg Community Centers' 25th Annual Christmas with Santa will be Friday, Dec. 15, and Saturday, Dec.16t, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. each night. Refreshments will be provided by Re-New-ing Edinburg. Santa will greet the kids at the Santa Shack located on the property at 6590 Hwy. 8 in New Edinburg. Kids will be able to visit with Santa and receive a gift and candy from Santa. For more information call Melody Spears at (870) 510-6388.
"Lost in New Edinburg" Christmas Photo Contest
Re-New-ing Edinburg is hosting its annual "Lost in New Edinburg at Christmastime" photo contest through Dec. 31.
The organization invites the public to use their imagination and snap photos of their children or whole family using Christmas displays within New Edinburg or the old historic buildings in town that would make a great photo of a Christmas past.
Prizes for the contest are $100 for first place, $50 for second place, and $25 for third place.
Email photos to renewing.edinburg@gmail.com or through Facebook Messenger on the Re-New-ing Edinburg Facebook page.