Community spirit on full display at Gainesville and Theodosia events

There’s a certain kind of magic that settles into these hills when December rolls in - the kind that brings Ozark County’s small-town communities together in the very best ways to celebrate the beautiful place we call home, the wonderful neighbors we share it with and the kindness and love that makes the world go round.

Last weekend, that magic swept through Gainesville and Theodosia, turning both towns into bustling hubs of Christmastime cheer. From Gainesville’s Wonders of Christmas on the Square and its Jingle Bell Parade to Theodosia’s cookie-baking contest, tree lighting ceremony and first-ever Christmas parade, neighbors in both towns came together in that Ozark County way to make things merry - singing, laughing and kicking  off the holiday season in small-town style. 

(For more photos, pick up this week's edition of the Ozark County Times)

Wonders of Christmas on the Square

The annual Wonders of Christmas on the Square festival drew a big crowd to the Gainesville square last Friday evening, Dec. 5. The event opened at 5 p.m. with a lively mix of vendors offering all sorts of delicious food and unique items. Allisa West, who organizes the vendor area each year, said 26 different vendors participated this year. 

“We had plenty of food options including nachos, loaded baked potatoes, chicken and shrimp fried rice and the Historium soups,” West said. “Most vendors were very happy with the turnout. I’m always glad to see people supporting them so they’ll come back next year. They work so hard on their booths.”

Volunteers with Piland Youth Camp offered the baked potatoes, which could be loaded up with pulled pork or a hearty helping of chili, while Ozark Outdoor Adventures had their huge flattop grill on location, making chicken or shrimp fried rice for the crowd. 

In addition to the main dish options, there was no shortage of sweet and delectable holiday treats. Among the friendly faces offering up those goodies were Dave Clardy and Kalyn Rhoads of Chigger Ridge Fudge, serving just about any flavor of homemade fudge you could imagine; Shiela Neil of Bundt Bliss with her delicious varieties and sizes of bundt cakes; Christina Jones of Christina’s Country Creations with her famous fried pies and special cinnamon-sugar pie bites served with warm pie filling for dipping; Ed Burks of Hillbilly Kettle Corn popping fresh, hot kettle corn on the spot; and Juanita Luna and her crew with a beautiful display of chocolate-covered pretzels, cookie-decorating kits, cakes, peppermint brownies, chocolate chip cookies and more. 

Several other vendors rounded out a selection of goodies to satisfy even the biggest sweet tooth. Stockmens Bank handed out delicious hot cocoa and Christmas cookies, Freedom Church offered adorable hot-cocoa-to-go packages, Options Pregnancy Center had packaged donuts shaped like snowmen, Les Steinmetz of Back-to-Basics provided homegrown pickled items, elderberry syrup, bee pollen and other natural goods and other vendors provided desserts, home baked breads and more. Uncle Charlie’s Deep Fryed Sweets rounded out the offerings with several deep fryed treats - oreos, cinnamon buns, caramel apple slices, funnel cakes and even “deep fryed coffee.”

For those looking to finish up their Christmas shopping, the vendors at the event provided lots of interesting and unique items to choose from. From crocheted and hand-knitted items of Maple Leaf Stitches and Opal Croney, to the Christmas ornaments, bottle tags, decorations and other offerings from Sandi Naegele of SM Designs and leather goods  from B & R Western Store, shoppers found plenty of handmade, one-of-a-kind gifts perfect for filling stockings or wrapping under the tree.

The Ozark County Circuit Clerk and Recorders office made the most darling little Christmas photo station, where guests could get their photos taken for free, and Gainesville’s Care to Learn staff were on site handing out gloves and winter hats.

The Ozark County Historium was once again a bustling haven for friends and visitors stopping in to warm up, catch up and enjoy the Historium’s soup and chili fundraising supper. Diners could choose from a full row of crockpots filled with homemade goodness. Historium volunteer Janet Taber said they served more soup and chili than ever before, and 11 full crockpots were nearly emptied. In addition to warming bellies, the Historium warmed bodies, offering a much-needed break from the freezing temperatures outside. 

While festival goers were shopping and eating, holiday music filled the air from the courthouse lawn gazebo, where Ozark County Chamber of Commerce member Justin Spencer volunteered as DJ, as he has for several years. 

Around 6 p.m., the music was lowered for the annual Mr. and Miss Merry Christmas program. The program is open to 4- and 5-year old boys and girls each year. This year’s contest had six girls and two boys, each who stepped up to the microphone and answered a series of “gentle questions” by 2025 Hootin an Hollarin queen Isabelle Workman, followed by the opportunity to do something special such as tell a joke or sing a song. All the contestants did a fantastic job, but in the end, 5-year-old Maylee Johnson and 4-year-old Waylon Wachtel were crowned the winners. Maylee is the daughter of Will and Sami Johnson, and Waylon is the son of Wyatt and Elizabeth Wachtel. The rest of the contestants didn’t go home empty handed. Each one received a large stuffed bear for participating.

 After the contest wrapped up, it wasn’t long until the Jingle Bell parade rolled through town. Parade organizer Paula Rose starts early each year working with different groups, churches and individuals to put together a list of participating floats, lighted vehicles, bands, fire trucks, classic cars hauling special guests and more who make the parade happen.

This year’s parade was led by Ozark County Sheriff Cass Martin, followed by the honor guard and Timber Knob VFD. Gainesville Fire Department brought two fire trucks, and Caney Mountain VFD and the Ozark County Ambulance also drove flashing emergency vehicles in the parade. 

This year’s lineup featured four marching bands, more than ever, Rose said. However, two of the high school marching bands, from Chadwick and Bradleyville, joined forces and decided to march and perform together. The hometown Gainesville High School Band and the Central High School Kiltie Drum and Bugle Corps also participated, making two rounds around the square to give festival goers a show. 

This year’s float contest had seven great entries, but it was the Swiftie-inspired “Life of a Snowgirl” float from Chaney Monument Works that brought home the grand prize trophy. Frontier Baptist Church’s float, depicting a living nativity scene and an old wooden church, complete with children in costumes and live lambs, took first place. SDS Excavation and Cross Country Septic joined forces for the second place float, featuring a large, lighted excavator, and third place went to Cooper Friend Mowing’s lighted Candy Land entry. The best lighted vehicle contest also had some very strong competition, but the shine from Logan Hillhouse’s Ozarks Shine Mobile Detailing truck and trailer was nearly blinding - earning him the first place trophy. In a bit of light-hearted cousin rivalry, Logan’s cousin, Dylan Abraham, entered his festively lighted truck into this year’s contest and snagged second place.

“I think we had some of the best floats we have ever had. There may have been a few less than last year, but the ones that were entered were outstanding. I also thought the lighted vehicles were really good,” Rose told the Times. 

In addition to the floats, bands and lighted vehicles, there were several honored guests who rode in convertibles - Jingle Bell Parade Marshal April Luna, the newly crowned Mr. and Miss Merry Christmas Waylon Wachtel and Maylee Johnson, Hootin an Hollarin queen Isabelle Workman, Lil Cedar Pete and Miss Addie Lee Braydon Cressy and Nieva Bentley and Citizen of the Year Douglas Hawkins. 

Add in some classic rides, the Missouri Ozarks Community Health huge dental bus, motorcycles and more, and this year’s parade was one to remember!

Santa and two of his elves, made possible through the help of David Murphy, Harper Murphy and Maggie Roberts, closed out the parade aboard a hay wagon pulled by G&E Carriages. After reaching the square, they stepped down and headed to the lighted gazebo to greet children and take photos, bringing a perfect festive finish to the night.

Rose says she tries to reach out to each parade participant to tell them how much she appreciates their participation in the Jingle Bell Parade each year, as well as those who volunteer to judge and the many behind-the-scenes helpers who keep an event of this size moving. A special thanks was extended to parade emcee Renee Hambelton, who announces each entry from a microphone at the gazebo; Kenny Ericksen, who sets up the electricity needed for all the booths each year; and Mischa Kastning and Heather Luna, who decked out the gazebo and Christmas tree prior to the event. It’s the combined efforts of many, she said, that make the Jingle Bell Parade such a cherished Gainesville tradition year after year. See parade photos, page A8. 

Theodosia’s Christmas cookie baking contest, 

Christmas tree lighting and parade

All that good-will and festive Christmas spirit flowed westbound from Gainesville to Ozark County’s second batch of Christmas festivities in Theodosia Saturday. 

It’s hard to believe that just three short years ago, there wasn’t any organized Christmas events in the small lakeside community of just under 200 people. But in 2023, Theodosia Village council member Nancy Wilson and some of her friends got the bright idea to organize the first annual Village of Theodosia Christmas tree lighting to bring the community together for the holidays. “We hope to add a little more each year,” Wilson told the Times back then. Well that hope has been fulfilled, as Theodosia hosted three great events Saturday and drew its biggest crowd yet - nearly 200 people!

The day popped off that morning with the smell of freshly-baked cookies being brought to Village Hall for the second-annual cookie-baking contest. This year’s contest had seven entries with a wide variety of flavors. Although there were several tasty cookies, volunteer judges (Ozark County Sheriff Cass Martin, Suter Sweet’s Bakery owner Sara Jo Suter and Ben Cook) chose the delicious maple cookies with frosting swirl made by Josie Harrington as the number one entry. Second place was awarded to young baker Ember Garcia with her Candy Cane Christmas Cookies. And it was Melanie Hartman who secured third place with her sweet Brown Butter Toffee Cookies. The sheriff brought along his sons Branch and Rhett, and they served as honorary judges for the contest, Wilson said. 

The tree lighting ceremony was organized by Wilson and fellow committee members Karen Metzger, Kim Homer and Scarlett Wright. The event opened with a new festive addition - Christmas caroling, led and organized by Kim Homer. A group of singers stood under the lighted Village awning and led the crowd through a number of familiar and favorite Christmas songs. 

After the singing concluded, the group was led in prayer by Theodosia Methodist Church Pastor Bo Harger, and then Council Chairman Jon Humbert extended a festival welcome to the crowd. The cookie contest winners were announced next, and samples were provided for those in attendance to taste. Volunteers also served up bowls of hot chili, frito pies, hot cocoa and a variety of Christmas cookies to hungry festival attendees.

After visiting and being fed, everyone gathered around the large tree set on Village Hall’s lawn and awaited the main event. As the bulbs began to glow, the crowd cheered, cameras flashed and children’s eyes lit up with delight. The glow of the lights reflected on smiling faces, filling the lawn with holiday warmth and marking the official start of the Christmas season in Theodosia. Adding to the excitement, Santa Claus even made it down from the North Pole, visiting with area children and posing for photos inside Village Hall. Organizers said his appearance was made possible by Jack Smith, bringing an extra touch of holiday magic to the celebration.

That festive spirit carried on into the night as community members busied themselves wrapping lights and adding decorations to a host of vehicles for that night’s first annual Theodosia Christmas parade, organized by the Theodosia Area Chamber of Commerce. 

Shari McCallister, owner of Just Because Floral & Gifts in Theodosia, was a major part of that organization and says she’s just thrilled with the results of the parade, which had at least 38 various entries. 

Lots of viewers lined the 1/4-mile parade route from Hometown Hardware to the Theodosia post office on Highway 160, where parade floats and vehicles turned around and gave viewers on the other side of the road a good view as they traveled back to Hometown Hardware. 

The parade was led by Ozark County Sheriff Cass Martin, followed by Theodosia Area VFD fire trucks, a large dump truck filled with lighted presents, motorcycles, classic vehicles, imaginative floats, lighted golf carts, the Village snow plow, side-by-side vehicles and even a white limousine wrapped in lights and topped with a lit Christmas tree and large presents strapped to the roof.

“We’re so thankful for all of the participation,” McCallister said. “It was a wonderful night!”

Let’s do it all again this weekend!

Now that Christmastime has truly kicked off, there are a number of other fun and festive events to attend across the county. Check out page A1 and A6 for information on those events, and stay tuned in future editions for information on more Christmas events are the holiday nears. 

Pick up the Ozark County Times for more photos!