Chamber’s Annual Christmas Parade & Santa Visits!
On Saturday, December 7th, the Wayland Area Chamber of Commerce will be hosting Wayland’s Annual Christmas Parade. The parade will begin at 11:00am at the Wayland VFW Post 7581 located at 735 S Main Street. The parade will proceed North on Main, then go West on Superior. The parade will conclude at the Wayland Fire Station, 160 W Superior. Visits with Santa will take place at the fire department after the parade. Please bring a camera for pictures with Santa.
This year, the parade theme is Christmas Wonderland which allows those entering the parade to decorate accordingly. It is not required to decorate to the theme, but it is required to be included in theme judging. Cash prizes are awarded for the top three participants who decorate according to the theme (“For Profit” businesses are not eligible for cash awards but are eligible for the Best Theme Entry Plaque for “For Profit” businesses). Please note that the Wayland Area Chamber of Commerce provides Santa Claus for the parade so it is requested that all other parade entries do not use another Santa in their displays. This will avoid potential confusion for the children.
Interested in taking part in the parade?
For parade participants, vehicle line up begins at 10:00am and walkers line up at 10:30. Parade rules can be found on the chamber website www.waylandchamber.org on the Community Events page.
Warm Clothing and Non-Perishable Food WANTED!
The Wayland Boy Scout Troop 97 is encouraging parade spectators to bring non-perishable food items or gently used or new coats, gloves, scarfs, boots, and hats. There will be many Boy Scouts walking in the parade picking up these items along the route. Items can be handed to the Scouts as the walk by. All items will go to help local families in need.
Presenting: Our 2019 Grand Marshals Lindy & Eva Anderson
Grand Marshals Lindy and Eva Anderson will lead the parade as their 2019 grand marshals. The Andersons have lived in Wayland for over 50 years and have been married for 53 years. Lindy began his career in Wayland as a teacher prior to moving into an assistant principal role. In addition, Lindy served on the City of Wayland Planning Commission, Community Fair Board, eight years on City Council, eight years as the Mayor, Allegan County Planning Commission, City of Wayland DDA, Wayland Union Education Foundation and the Gun Lake Casino Revenue Sharing Board. In his spare time, Lindy enjoys vegetable gardening and playing golf. Eva worked as a Cosmetologist at Harlequin Hair Salon in Wayland for over thirty years prior to her retirement. Eva enjoyed volunteering as a Brownie Scout Leader and served on the Wayland City Planning Commission. In her spare time, Eva enjoys gardening, golf, crafting and water color painting. The Andersons have two daughters as well as one granddaughter and one grandson. The chamber is honored to have the Andersons lead the parade.
MANY thanks and our sincerest gratitude to our 2019 Christmas Event Sponsors: Biggby Coffee of Wayland, MI, Booth-Hilaski Grevenstuk Insurance Agency, LLC, Friends of the Henika District Library, Bruce Sexton, DDS, RT Stitchcrafts Embroidery & Screen Printing and Salvino’s Ristorante. We Appreciate YOU!!!