Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Schmidt
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co, WI) 12/03/2014
Abbotsford Christmas Parade (44th Annual - 6 December 2014)
Cinderella and Prince Charming appear in the 2013 Abbotsford Christmas parade in an elegant handcrafted carriage. Over 40 floats and 250 costumed characters will make their way down Abbotsford’s Main Street Saturday, Dec. 6, for the 44th year of the annual event. (Contributed photo)
By Todd Schmidt
The 44th annual Abbotsford Christmas parade is right around the corner. Mark your calendar for Saturday, Dec. 6, 2014, at 7:30 p.m. in downtown Abbotsford.
What makes this parade different from every other community parade? Until you have experienced it you won’t believe what a city of 2,300 people can pull off.
This isn’t your typical parade with tractor-trailers and politicians. Hundreds of hours of donated labor and time go into making each float and costume. There are no advertisements on the floats, just your favorite fantasy and cartoon characters and thousands of lights.
The parade is supported by area businesses that donate prizes and through the purchase of raffle tickets. The raffle tickets are available at area businesses now through Friday, Dec. 5, and the night of the parade on the parade route until the start of the parade at 7:30 p.m.
Grand prize is a Kalahari resort vacation and cash donated by The Abbotsford/Colby Area Chamber of Commerce and the Axiom Community Center.
The new Frozen float may be the cause of all the early cold weather. Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Olaf, Sven and the trolls will warm your heart and melt all the holiday stress away.
All the other costumes and floats are being repaired and cleaned for the big night. If you missed the last couple of years, you will be enchanted by Cinderella’s elegant handcrafted carriage and The Little Mermaid and Ursula float.
Friday night, Dec. 5, the Public Learning Center in the Abbotsford City Hall will host a free family movie about two sisters and a snowman. Come early to meet the movie and parade characters from 6 to 7 p.m. The free movie starts at 7 p.m.
A full schedule of events is planned for Saturday. A cookie walk will be held from 8 a.m. to noon at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in Abbotsford. Lunch with Santa will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Colby High School.
Abbotsford City Hall will be the site of the Abby Lions soup and chili feed from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and home-based business cash and carry sales. Shops on Candy Cane Lane will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Nicolet Bank, downtown Abbotsford location only, will be open from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday serving refreshments and candy canes and visits with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Special discounts are being offered at the Rodeway Inn and the Abby Inn for Parade-goers, as they will offer a 25-percent room voucher for those riding the free shuttle bus to the parade. The shuttle bus will pick up and drop off at the East Town Mall parking lot and the Rodeway Inn.
Bring the whole family, dress warm and enjoy the Magic of Christmas in Abbotsford on Dec. 6, 2014.
