It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Indianola, and that look will be accentuated this week with the lighting of the town Christmas tree on Thursday evening and the annual Christmas parade set for Saturday morning.
Thursday’s holiday events will kick off with Cocoa & Candy Canes, Indianola’s annual hot chocolate contest, which will run from 3:30 until 6:30. Hot cocoa will be judged at Abraham's, Alford's, Carriage House, The Crown, 82 Outlet, Lost Pizza, Magnolia Marketplace, Paul's Jewelry, Pecan House, Petal Pushers, Turner's Downtown Marketplace, & Young Ideas.
Santa Claus will also make an appearance at 82 Outlet. This will be followed by the 6 p.m. lighting of the town Christmas tree at the corner of Front Avenue and Second Street. Portions of Front and Second will be blocked off for this event, which will feature Christmas carols, multiple performances, the decoration of two live trees donated by Shoppers Value, and of course, the lighting of the main tree.
The annual Christmas Parade, which was canceled last year due to COVID-19, will return this coming Saturday at 10 a.m. to downtown Indianola. For the tree lighting, Second Street will be closed from Front to Court Ave. For the parade, expect Second Street, beginning at B.B. King Road to Front Ave.; Front Ave. to Main Street; Main Street to Depot Ave. and Depot Ave. to Second St. to be closed.
The parade will start at the Gin on Second Street and will cut through Depot Avenue before turning onto Main Street. The parade will go left onto Front Avenue and then left onto Second Street and stop at the Gin where it started.
Elementary kids who have not turned in an ornament for the live trees can go to the Courthouse lawn from 4-5:30 p.m. on Thursday to do them. Supplies will be provided, courtesy of Judge Debra Giles.
