By Jack James
The 2018 Lavaca Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 1, did not disappoint! The streets of downtown and along Main Street were filled with anxious local citizens: parents and grandparents looking for their loved ones riding on floats, groups looking for the vehicles representing their organizations and churches and children with plastic bags cheered, clapped, grabbed and dodged candy being tossed from festive floats. It was Lavaca at its best!
Somewhere around thirty vehicles, ranging in size from a child on a battery-powered toy car to a gigantic 18-wheeler, drove down our Main Street from the parking lots of the First Baptist Church to the parking lot at the intersection of 255 and 96. Indeed, there was something for everyone. Bright lights were blinking from entrant’s cars and trucks, beautiful music and singing filled the night air. Even old Santa was there, bringing up the rear of the parade atop one of our beautiful firetrucks, on his way to City Hall to greet children and find what they wanted for Christmas this year.
Spearheaded by Shelly Hockaday, Lavaca’s City Recorder and Water Clerk and the city representative to the Lavaca Area Chamber of Commerce, the parade was in expert hands. She represented herself and the many hats she wears very well. The Chamber is proud to have Shelly and the city partnered with us to make Lavaca a better place to live and work.
The purpose of the Lavaca Area Chamber of Commerce is to promote business in and around our community. This parade not only was fun for our people but allowed others to see our great town, drawing people to local shops and restaurants. Hopefully they will consider us if they need a home or want to open a business of their own.
Our chamber donated funds to help pay for awards to the winners of the different divisions. Those included:
Large float:
First place- Lavaca 4-H
Second place- Cub Scout Pack 674
Third place- Lavaca 1st Assembly of God
Small float:
First place- Mark and Elaine Williams family
Second place- Big Knife Shop & Welding
Third place- SADA Students Against Drugs and Alcohol
Walking/Battery powered:
First place- Gideon and Emma Mounts
Second place- Kinley Cole
Third place- Brixx Dye
Side by Side/ATV:
First place- Lorie Robertson
Second place- Cody Christian
Third place- Chasidy Beavers
Vehicles/Antiques Clubs:
First place- GCC Ready Mix
Second place- Johnny Helms
Third place- Larry Tracy
Band First- Lavaca High School
Animal Drawn/Clubs:
First- Don Weaver
Second- Bobby White
Third- Kari Cannedy
On behalf of the Lavaca Area Chamber of Commerce, Merry Christmas!
