NEW PALESTINE — Dressed in classic Christmas red and white from head to toe, Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus stepped off the fire department truck after ridding through town during the first ever Whoville New Palestine Winter Fest 2022 parade.
After getting off the truck, they made their way to the ole New Palestine History Museum building. Once inside, the famous couple greeted boys and girls, young and old alike, to wish everyone a very merry Christmas. That included a special Christmas reading from Mrs. Claus.
The inaugural New Palestine Winter Fest 2022 and Whoville parade along with other activities were coupled with the New Palestine Christmas Walk, which is put on every year by the New Palestine Chamber of Commerce.
The Chamber’s goal is to get people to visit downtown New Palestine to support local businesses while New Palestine Main Street was looking to spread Christmas cheer. The two organizations came together to put on a successful Winter Fest 2022 event, organizers said.
“We’re very pleased with how things have turned out, including the crowd,” New Palestine Main Street’s Julie Lucas said of the several hundred people who came out.
Lucas and other board members, co-event chairs Carl Boss and Kim Taylor, worked to put the event together, which included free games and hot chocolate for everyone, the parade, a Christmas tree lightening, vendors and the visit from Santa and Mr. Claus.
“We really think things turned out well,” Boss said. “It’s all good stuff and we’re thrilled that kids from New Palestine High School chipped in to help us.”
Boss noted they were mostly thankful for the somewhat decent weather as he recalled last year when the night was dampened by a cold rain.
A pretty pony, four beautiful full-grown horses and even the ugly ole Grinch with his cute dog Max rode in the parade. The first Christmas parade for New Palestine was small but pleasing, community members said.
Ahndrea Valentin brought her two step-daughters from nearby Morristown to enjoy the late afternoon and early evening festivities that also included a Christmas tree lighting and lighting luminaries along Main Street.
“The kids just wanted to see Santa Claus,” Valentin said. “So far, we’ve had some fun.”
It was the same for friends Kelly Vaught and Brittany Wyatt, both from New Palestine, who brought their kids to play some games and see Santa. While the kids were trying their hand at some outside bowling, the ladies were drinking some hot coffee lattes to stay warm on the chilly evening.
“I just love it that we have a small town community where we can come out and enjoy something like this,” Vaught said. “We’re having such a fun time.”
Vaught noted if not for a fun evening with Winter Fest 2022, she’d probably be home taking a nap of the chilly night.
The event was spread throughout town with some vendors set up near the NPHS while there were also some vendors set up near Town Hall as NP Chamber officials tried to stay true to their original Christmas Walk and get patrons to visit all the businesses throughout town. Patrons who did had a chance to win a $50 gift card for the holidays.
One of the bigger hits of the night was a two-year-old Great Dane named Elliot Mae. She was dressed up as Max, the Grinch’s dog. She even got to ride in the parade along with her owner, who was dressed as the Grinch played by County resident Dale Wagner.
“Hey mom, look at that dog,” one of the kids yelled and then came over to see the big dog dressed as a reindeer and say hello to the mean ole, yucky Grinch who despite his image was pretty nice to folks.
