By Jeff Snyder
Mount Ayr, Iowa — The weather finally cooperated on Saturday enabling the “Very Vintage” Lighted Christmas Parade and most activities to proceed as planned.
Although the weather threatened to wipe out the festivities, clearing finally arrived at about 6:15 p.m. paving the way for the first of the evening’s activities; the Lighted Parade.
Engines from the local fire department along with a number of colorful lighted floats made their way up Taylor Street and eventually onto the square. The parade did a lap of the square rewarding those who braved the cold rainy conditions.
Upon completion of the parade, attention was then turned to the annual city tree lighting ceremony in front of the Skelly gas station on the south side of the square.
Unfortunately, the tree lighting was short lived as a breaker was tripped rendering the tree to darkness apparently blamed on the damp conditions. Several attempts were made to revive the electrical malfunction with no success.
Sometime later in the evening the breaker issue was solved and the tree sprang to life.
Additional festivities were conducted inside the Ringgold County Courthouse where Santa greeted anxious children and received their whispered Christmas wishes.
The courthouse itself was aglow with numerous decorated trees provided by the different offices located throughout the county seat building.
Unfortunately, the choir scheduled to take place in the assembly room was canceled at the last moment.
All in all, the festivities were well received and appreciated by all those who were lucky enough to attend.
