WM tree lighting festivities set for Nov. 20

WM tree lighting festivities set for Nov. 20

Christmas parade moved to Dec. 11 due to election runoff

news@theeveningtimes.com

The City of West Memphis’s Christmas tree arrived Tuesday afternoon but it was too windy to “plant” it at Worthington Park.

But don’t worry, the city will find time to get the enormous evergreen decked out in holiday decor in time for next week’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony that kicks off the local holiday season.

The traditional tree lighting will take place on the traditional date, the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.

Santa will greet children and turn on the lights and inspect the decorations in Worthington Park next Tuesday, Nov. 20. The party starts with children from the audience singing Christmas Carols at 6 p.m., with the special guest arriving fashionably just a little later. The jolly old elf will throw the switch to light the park.

“Santa is coming in on a fire truck at 6:30 p.m.,” said West Memphis Convention and Visitors Bureau director Jim Jackson. “They’ll be taking photos with Santa and the Boys and Girls club will sell refreshments.”

One West Memphis local tradition is getting the boot, though — but only for one week. The West Memphis Christmas Parade is traditionally held the first Tuesday in December, but politics will take precedence that day, as the runoff for the West Memphis mayor’s race is set for that day.

On Tuesday, Dec. 4, voters will head to the polls to choose between Councilman Marco McClendon and Councilman Wayne Croom to succeed Mayor Bill Johnson, whose term ends Dec. 31.

With the election in place, West Memphis city officials decided to move the Christmas parade back a week. The parade will now be held on Tuesday, Dec. 11, beginning at 7 p.m.

By the Evening Times News Staff