If you didn’t want to take the time to search city streets for holiday lights you could stay in downtown Bellechester and wait for them to come to you. The annual lighted parade was held on Sunday December 7th at 6 PM featuring 7 entries. The cold temperature and brisk wind kept the outdoor activities short and sweet but the Christmas spirit was warm and welcoming.
In previous years, the parade kicked things off and food and kids’ activities followed in the Fabtech building. This year the Bellechester Area Lion’s Club joined with the Bellechester Clay Diggers non-profit to open the festivities with a chili and sweet roll supper to benefit the Goodhue Wildcat trap team. The fixings were purchased at the Country Station in Goodhue and the meal served by trap team members in the community center from 3-5 PM.
Also in the community center, the Happy-Go-Luckies 4-H club sponsored cookie decorating for kids. The club also supported local business by purchasing the cookies from Goodhue’s Bake Shoppe The 4-H club took a “divide and conquer” approach to the evening’s events with some working the community center, some providing gift wrapping and others creating and riding on the lighted parade float.
As the parade floats lined up in Ag Partner’s parking lot, spectators filtered in from the community center and tavern and lined the street to cheer on their favorites. The Goodhue Fire Department led participants representing the 4-H club, Goodhue Lion’s, Darn Good Vittles, Miss Goodhue, the Keller family and Lodermeiers, Inc. Proceeds of the $10 parade entry fee was divided between second, third and fourth place winners. Timberwolves tickets were given to the Keller family’s winning entry.
To learn more about the non-profit Clay Diggers, call Emily Schmidt at 651-408-4447.
