At the June 12 meeting of the Bonham Rotary Club, David Stapp gave the program on the Bonham Christmas Parade and Festival. David stated that this year’s event is being planned entirely differently than in the last several years. The Bonham Area Chamber of Commerce is making plans to step back in history this holiday season and celebrate an 1800s Christmas parade and festival which will held on Saturday, December 7, 2013 beginning at 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. They have a tentative schedule which David said is very flexible right now, but they are already getting volunteers and venders.
There will be street vendors and downtown restaurants and retail stores will be open, horses and carriages, possibly hayrides around the square and to Fort Inglish. There will be a decorated stage for musical entertainment throughout the day and evening, storytellers telling stories of 1800s Bonham and Fannin County history, and carolers and Christmas characters roaming the square. Everyone is encouraged to dress according to the 1800 era.
The festivities will start at Fort Inglish, which will be decorated as 1800s Christmas, and there will be Historical Society volunteers re-inactors, old fashioned food and beverages, and Santa and Mrs. Claus and their helpers.
The Christmas parade route will begin at Powder Creek Park, north on Main St., right onto Sam Rayburn Dr., left on Center St. (hwy. 78), left on 5th St., and left back onto Main St. going south back to Powder Creek Park. Floats will be decorated for this specific period and horse drawn buggies, wagons, buck board wagons are encouraged to participate. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be in a decorated wagon that will park on the square after the parade.
Late that afternoon there will be a Christmas Tree Lighting on the Courthouse Square. Children will be encouraged to bring a homemade ornament for the tree.
David Stapp is heading the Christmas Parade and Festival Committee and if you would like to volunteer, be a vendor, or can help in any way, please call the Chamber office at 903-583-4811.
The Bonham Rotary Club meets every Wednesday at 12:00 noon at the Family Life Center.
(L-R): Rotarians and Bonham Area Chamber of Commerce Board Members David Stapp, Chamber Chairman John Farris, Tommie Sue Turner and City Manager Bill Shipp.