Tomorrow night is the night, the official night.
If we were living out “A Christmas Story,” we’d have the opportunity to be right there, next to Ralphie, Randy, Mom and The Old Man, wrapped up against the cold of a Hammond, Ind. night, right across from the big display window at Higbee’s Department Store, ready to enjoy the Christmas parade.
As we divided our attention between the parade entries and the Higbee’s window, we could see our great dream — “an official Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock, and this thing which tells time.”
The part about the Christmas dream is up to each of us, but the rest of it is within our grasp Saturday night when the Great Bend Christmas parade is held at 5:30 p.m. downtown, followed at 6:45 p.m. with the lighting of the new Mayor’s Christmas Tree.
There will be floats and kids and carolers and more kids and Santa and still more kids — you know — a Christmas parade.
It is the official kick-off to the Christmas season in Great Bend.
Some of you are excused because you’re heading out of town for the last of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
But the rest of us need to be there.
At least in spirit, Ralphie and Randy will be right there with us.
Enjoy.
— Chuck Smith