Children chase free-range chickens through leaf-strewn streets. The River City Ukes strike up holiday harmonies. People in Santa hats sip chocolate. Families gather along the sides of the old-fashioned main street, down which teenagers expectantly look for the first car in the parade to appear. These were some of the scenes at the Fair Oaks Christmas in the Village, sponsored by the Fair Oaks Chamber of Commerce, which took place on Saturday, December 5^th.

Though the evening was chilly and the sky overcast, this did not stop the hundreds of bundled-up revelers from enjoying an afternoon and evening of perusing the wares of the arts and craft vendors who set up shop along the village’s main street, getting pictures of Santa with the kids, doing crafts at Santa’s workshop, or browsing antiques and curios at Fair Oaks’ many interesting shops. If attendees got cold, they could warm up with a cup of homemade chili or hot cider, which visitors sipped as they waited for the evening’s highlight event: the Christmas parade.

Just when it seemed as if the remaining twilight would be swallowed up by the dark of night, the parade emcee announced, “I see lights!” All heads turned and all eyes squinted to catch the first glimpse of the head of the parade. The slow-moving line of classic cars, convertibles carrying local beauty queens, fire engines, trailers pulling wheeled coffee shacks, jazz dancers, dogs illuminated in strands of colored lights and, of course, Santa Claus, made its way slowly up the boulevard and past the little shops lined up along the homey town square reminiscent of Main Street, U.S.A. Beating out time for the event was the award-winning Bella Vista High School marching band. There was a radiant nativity scene on wheels, presented by the local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, featuring live actors representing Mary, Joseph, and other holy figures from that mystical night of nights. Even the local tattoo parlor celebrated the coming of Christ with a hot blast of fire from its tailpipe. Nearly every group of marchers threw out candy and treats to admiring crowds of children who watched it all with glee from the sidelines.

After the celebratory procession, the magical moment came for the lighting of the Fair Oaks Christmas tree, which rose majestically from the center of the town square. It was a fitting consummation of an event that this community obviously knows how to do in style, marking the festive start of this little town’s favorite holiday.