The Clay Center Community Club, sponsor of the Christmas Around the Square event, knew the traditional Christmas Community celebration was in limbo.
The Christmas celebration, which had been at the Clay Center Fairgrounds in the past years, would need to be adjusted due to the uncertainty of COVID in 2020.
The community club members brainstormed ways to continue the Christmas celebration as they felt the tradition needed to continue, but also needed to stay within the CDC COVID public safety guidelines.
Members contacted surrounding communities to get ideas and discussed what would work for the Clay Center community.
One idea intrigued some members.
This is how the Clay Center Lighted Parade made its December 2020 debut with about five entries. Entries included tractors and semis driving around the town square.
Jesse VonSpreckelsen, parade chairman, said “The parade goers were so pleased and excited to see the new addition to the celebration that the parade has continued since then. The number of entries and participants in the parade have increased each year. With weather and schedules, the number of entries are always a surprise. Some of the past entries have included tractors, semis, cars, power wheels, horses, and Mr. and Mrs Claus.”
This year on Dec. 8, the parade included about 24 entries at the Christmas Around the Square, and included lighted and decorated power wheel vehicles, a tractor with equipment, inflatables on trucks, tractors, the Grinch, utility vehicles, Santa, motorcycles, and horses.
As the entries made their way around the square twice, you could hear excitement from the parade watchers as they reacted to the lighted parade.
Other activities including offering children the ability to write letters to Santa. The letters could be dropped off in a specially-designated mailbox, or personally delivered to Santa and Mrs Claus, who were anxiously waiting for the children.
Lots of giggles and squeals could be heard around the downtown area as people participated in activities the businesses provided.
Most of the activities were held inside in case of cold weather.
There was plenty of seating for adults to sit and visit or watch the kids as they enjoyed fresh popped popcorn and cider or hot chocolate.
Some of the other activities were basketball throw, punch a cup, cupcake walk, snowball throw, face painting and much more.
There were plates of decorated cookies for purchase, gingerbread house giveaway, lighted foam sticks, coloring pages, books, and much more for those attending the event.
The Clay Center Volunteer Fire Department also hosted a freewill offering soup and sandwich meal, as they do every year, and much like every year, the soup sold out.
Proceeds from the soup supper are split 50/50, with half going to the Clay County Giving Tree and the other half going to the Clay County Food Pantry.
Grayson, Ryker, and Hudson Aksamit play knock the snowman down. BECCY TESSMAN | CLAY COUNTY NEWS
