It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Wreaths and lights adorn Main Street, and the city Christmas tree is standing in Central Park.
The holiday season will officially kick off in downtown Ardmore next Tuesday when the Christmas Market, tree lighting ceremony and the Parade of Lights return.
The day will begin at 11 a.m. in Central Park with the annual Christmas Market which will run until around 7 p.m.
Tes Stewart, recreation supervisor with Ardmore Parks and Rec, said 38 vendors are currently signed up, and she expects a few more in the coming days.
“It’s a great place to find a cool gift,” Stewart said. “We’re going to have all kinds of things from handmade crafts, to baked goods, to t-shirts and mugs. There’s a bit of everything.”
The market will also have a wide range of food, with seven different food trucks participating.
“We’ll have burgers and fries, Mexican, barbeque, seafood and mini doughnuts,” she said. “There will be tables set up for everyone who wants to come for lunch.”
In addition to all of the things available for purchase, there will also be various groups giving away things for free.
“Be sure to stop by the Parks and Rec booth,” Stewart said. “We’ll have a Christmas gift for the kids. The Ardmore Public Library will also have a booth, and they’ll be giving away books and ornaments.”
Starting at 4 p.m. several local groups will be performing on the stage. So far students from Dickson, Lone Grove and Plainview will be singing, and more groups will be confirmed in the coming days.
Also starting at 4 p.m., the Salvation Army will be serving free hot chocolate. They will continue serving through the end of the parade.
Carriage and wagon rides around the neighborhood will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will run until about 7:30 p.m.
The next phase of events will begin shortly after 6 p.m. with the tree lighting ceremony which will be immediately followed by the Parade of Lights.
Ardmore Main Street Authority Manager Allison Meredith said the parade had 70 entries as of Tuesday afternoon.
“Last year we had 80 entries, and I think we’re going to beat that,” Meredith said. “We still have a lot of people calling and emailing to sign up, and several groups will probably enter the day of the parade.”
A first and second place will be awarded in the following categories: corporations, small businesses, floats, walkers and performers, and bands. This year’s parade judges will be Julie Longest and Buddy Parkerson.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing what everybody brings,” Meredith said. “I really love the floats and how creative they all are.”
On a more serious note, Meredith wanted to remind all parade entrants that throwing out candy is not allowed. Any entry that throws candy will be banned from future parades.
“It’s really all about safety,” she said. “Kids will run out into the street, and that’s so dangerous. We want the parade to be all about fun and don’t want to see anybody get hurt.”
