Christmas events thrill Elizabethtown children

Carolers singing “Silent Night,” Christmas trees on trailers and the Jolly Old Elf himself rolled down West Dixie Avenue Saturday.

Jill Pickett

Santa Claus and friends wave to parade-goers Saturday as the Elizabethtown Christmas parade nears the end of the route in downtown.

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Jill Pickett

Elizabethtown Mayor Tim Walker reads "'Twas the Night before Christmas" during the festivities in downtown Saturday.

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Elizabethtown’s Christmas parade enthralled children including the two Rex Hanson of Elizabethtown brought to see Santa Claus.

He said the city’s annual Christmas events are good for children.

“It’s community,” he said. “It’s something fun to do, something to get out of the house instead of just sitting at home.”

Having something fun and family-oriented to do also is why Terry Heilman of Elizabethtown brought his daughters to the parade.

Heilman said he might have been at home watching sports without the night’s events.

His children, Elizabethtown Christian Academy third-grader Addie and her sister, Gracie, a kindergartner, were excited about seeing floats and catching candy thrown from classic cars, bike-riding elves, waving cheerleaders and others featured in the parade.

Addie was especially glad to see her school’s float, which included sock puppets and a reminder about Jesus.

The parade was followed by lighting of the Christmas tree next to the H.B. Fife Courthouse. Mayor Tim Walker read “The Night Before Christmas” with Santa and Mrs. Claus in the audience.

Matthew Berger was one of the children crowded on the courthouse steps to hear the poem and visit Santa.

He solemnly promised to mail Santa his long wish list.

“Santa and Mrs. Claus are here, so that’s what makes it awesome,” he said.

Matthew, a kindergartner at St. James Catholic Regional School, said he had been very good because he has an Elf on the Shelf watching him all the time.

“Every time I’m about to be bad, my mom says, ‘Your elf’s watching you,’ and I just get mad because I never get to do stuff,” he said.

His father, Troy Berger of Elizabethtown, had been to some downtown events before, but Saturday was the first time he had participated in Christmas events.

Berger said his son loved all of it, and he was glad so many spectators turned out to make the festivities a success.

“Matthew is 6 years old, and he’s so excited about Christmas,” he said.

Matthew said he hopes everyone has a good Christmas.

Amber Coulter can be reached at (270) 505-1746 or acoulter@ thenewsenterprise.com.