The Pulaski County Community Development Commission welcomed Winamac’s residents to its annual Electric Lights Parade to kick off the weekend of Winter Wonderland on December 3 along with the Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce.
Participants decorated their golf carts, cars, and work vehicles with Christmas lights for the downtown parade. The fun didn’t stop with the parade because Santa Claus visited Winamac’s fire department directly after the parade. The event also hosted vendor booths to help attendees with last-minute Christmas shopping.
Winter Wonderland has been a town tradition since the 1940s, President of the Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce, Amy Cantu, remembers celebrating the holidays in downtown Winamac since she was a little girl. Being one of the primary event organizers, Cantu loves to see this event bring the city of Winamac together every year.
“Sometimes festivals come with a lot of stress, but in the end, watching this small town pull together to put on a festival is really impactful,” said Cantu. “It takes the entire community; it doesn't take just a committee or a president. It takes everyone!”
“It gets to me every year. It’s like a lot of hard work, but you get to see everything you work so hard for finally happen,” she continued. “It took the electric company, the fire department, people in their golf carts, local businesses, some churches, and some nonprofits. Everyone pulled together for the same cause, which is what it means to be part of a community.”
The great group effort highlights all the small businesses in town during a time of the year that impacts both the small business owner and consumer.
“The Chamber focuses a lot on networking for our small businesses,” said Cantu.
The Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce promotes many local businesses during the Winter Wonderland event regardless of whether the business is part of the chamber. Small businesses with brick-and-mortar stores are welcome, but the chamber also encourages those without a storefront to participate in the weekend of festivities. What matters most to the chamber is fostering a strong community among business owners across Winamac.
“This event allows us to touch base with the community and see their faces. We are all giving back to the community by attending this event,” said Cantu. “You can have great small businesses, but if you don't have the community, then the business is not going to stay open very long.”
Beyond building up the business community in Winamac, Cantu is particularly proud of the Electric Lights Parade. This is the third year the town has hosted the celebration.
“I saw that other communities were having these types of parades,” she said. “So I just kept pushing for it. It has been a hit from year one. This time of year, people really get into the Christmas lights at night. We try to make it bigger and better every year.”
The residents agree with Cantu: the parade is always getting better.
“Tonight was great with perfect weather. I loved all the decorated golf carts and, of course, Santa is the best part, right?” said resident Tracey Jones. “I'm here every year. Just to have anything to have the community come out is perfect. Thank you to the Chamber of Commerce for putting this on. It was just a wonderful evening.”
Second graders, Everly Jones and Zoey Schmicker, were happy to have spent their evening at Winter Wonderland. Their favorite part?
“Candy and seeing Santa!” they said in unison.
The fun doesn’t stop on Friday, though. Winter Wonderland in Winamac continues onto Saturday, December 4 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The vendors will continue to be available throughout multiple downtown locations. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be back out at 9 a.m. A coat drive will take place during the morning on Market St. and Main St. To wrap up the evening, Winamac will host its first Christmas karaoke and ugly sweater party on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at Tippy’s on US 35.
Visit https://www.facebook.com/Pulaski-County-Chamber-of-Commerce-647371801959519 for more information.
To learn more about Pulaski County Community Development Commission visit http://development.pulaskionline.org/.
