Clear Lake Christmas

(Above) MBT featured the Grinch on their winning entry in the Lighted Parade.  Lake Theatre was second and B&B Entertainment was third.

by Marianne Gasaway

Christmas spirit was shining bright Saturday, as the Christmas by the Lake celebration was held.  Inclement weather forced a one week postponement of the celebration, but it did little to dampen the enthusiasm.

“It was a great day.  Everything from carriage and trolley rides, activities at the Arts Center, Smore’s, roasting chestnuts and Christmas karaoke, were all enjoyed by good crowds.  And when it came time for the lighted parade and fireworks, people came out of the woodwork,” said Gene Madson, who has chaired the event each of its 24 years.

Santa and Mrs. Claus were kept very busy greeting visitors at their City Park home.  An estimated 825 children stopped by to let the jolly old elf know their Christmas wishes first hand.  Those who didn’t talk personally with Santa over the weekend can still catch up with him each Saturday and Sunday from 1-4 p.m. prior to Christmas.

A new feature of the event, an outdoor market organized by Simply Nourished owner Ashley Coleman, was also well received and will expand for future celebrations, reported Chamber of Commerce Event Coordinator Trish Funderman.

Generosity was also a big part of the event.  Donations to the local food bank filled the lobby of the Lake Theatre, as they were used as admission to free matinees Saturday and Sunday.  And Sunday’s Polar Bear Plunge raised an estimated $8,000 for Toys for Tots and Make-A-Wish.

The lighted parade drew about 35 entries this year.  Among the participants was Jason and Megan Dennis, who had just been married earlier in the day.  Months ago, the couple reserved the trolley for use following their afternoon service.  When the Christmas by the Lake date changed

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from Dec. 1 to 8, the Chamber of Commerce invited the Clear Lake couple to join in the fun.  The Chamber used the trolley in the afternoon to offer free rides, then the wedding party hopped aboard after their ceremony and rode the parade route.

“It was like something you might see in a Hallmark movie,” laughed Megan, who was joined on the trolley by her brothers, Scott and Joel Watson, and the remainder of the wedding party.

“It really made the wedding.  It was magical,” added Jason.  “We stopped at the end of the parade for a picture with the sunset behind us.  It made a memorable day even more special.”

Thanks to the cold, wintery weather a week earlier, fireworks were able to be shot off from the ice-covered lake for the first time in four years.

“Every year I tell Flashing Thunder the fireworks were the best ever— because they are.  This year was no exception,” said Madson.  “There’s just something about them going off from the ice that makes it spectacular.”

Plans are already underway for Clear Lake’s 25th Christmas by the Lake celebration Dec. 7, 2019.

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