Wonders of Christmas festival begins at 5 p.m. Friday: Horse-drawn carriage rides added to lineup at Gainesville festival
Dashing down the square in a one-horse open sleigh During the Wonders of Christmas festival Friday, Dec. 10, Ed and Liz Wills, newly settled Tecumseh residents and owners of GE Carriages, will be offering horse-drawn carriage rides from Real Life Church’s booth, located in the parking lot of Century Bank on the north side of the Gainesville square. The rides will be $10 each (the carriage can fit up to four family members comfortably) and will go from the Century Bank parking lot, around the east side of the square and down to the MFA Oil office, where the carriage will turn around and return to the starting point. The Willses recently relocated from Arizona, where they operated a horse-drawn carriage business for many years. Ed told the Times they will use the carriage, pictured above, with a black horse. GE Carriages is available for hire for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries or other special occasions. Contact the business at 520-235-2829 for more information.
Brandon Tanksley, pastor at Real Life Church in Gainesville, said recently that the church is partnering with GE Carriages to offer horse-drawn carriage rides at the Wonders of Christmas Festival, which begins at 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10, in Gainesville.
The rides will be offered from 5 to 7 p.m., and then the carriage will transition to be a part of the Jingle Bell Parade, carrying one of the most loved parade participants of all – Santa himself.
The carriage rides will begin at Real Life Church’s booth in the parking lot of Century Bank and will travel down the east side of the square past MFA Oil and then will turn around and return to the starting location.
The white carriage, which features a festive red velvet interior, will be pulled by a black horse. The carriage holds up to four family members comfortably, and rides will be offered for $10 per ride, Tanksley said.
Other vendor booths offering dinner options, sweet and festive treats, hot drinks, homemade goodies and a variety of items to purchase as Christmas gifts, will open at 5 p.m. Booth coordinator Allisa West says more than 25 booths or other vendors are scheduled to operate at this year’s event. To sign up as a vendor for the event, contact West at 417-543-0407.
Everyone is asked to clear the Gainesville square by 4 p.m. Friday so booths and other vendors can be set up before the 5 p.m. event begins.
In addition to the vendors, several local businesses are staying open extended hours for parade participants to visit and shop.
The Mr. and Miss Merry Christmas contest, open to girls and boys ages 4 and 5, will begin at 6 p.m. at the gazebo on the northwest side of the square. Registration is now closed for the event. Onlookers can watch the contest from the street and lawn in front of the gazebo.
The Jingle Bell Parade begins at 7 p.m., and it’s set to be a big one. A new addition to this year’s parade lineup is the Central High School Kiltie Drum and Bugle Corps. The group will join a couple of Ozark County school bands, firetrucks, floats, decorated vehicles, semi trucks and more.
Parade prizes include the D.W. Hawkins Salute to the Spirit of Christmas Ho Ho Ho grand prize float award of $150, sponsored by Shelter Insurance agent Douglas Hawkins, the first place award of $100, second place award of $75, third place award of $50 and best lighted vehicle, which wins a $50 award.
To join the lineup at this year’s parade, call Paula Rose at 417-989-1282.
After the parade concludes, the Christmas tree lighting ceremony will be held, and Santa will be available for visiting and photos in the gazebo on the northwest corner of the courthouse lawn.
For a full list of vendors and parade entries, see last week’s edition of the Times.
The annual event is made possible by donors including the Ozark County Times, Katrina Amyx, CPA, Century Bank of the Ozarks, Mill Country Title, Pointer Law Office, Pippin CPA, Douglas Hawkins - Shelter Insurance and local resident Nancy Walker.