Some slight changes are being made to this year's Christmas in Proctor Park event to benefit California businesses and families.
Invited by Mayor Rich Green, Chamber members joined a meeting regarding a potential hotel build, in which a hotel representative pitched ideas on how the community could get a hotel in California.
With that, Tyler Clenin, of the Christmas California Style Committee, gave a presentation to members. He said the parade for Dec. 3 should be in order. He said the parade this year will have speakers set up along the street for an announcer. This individual will recognize local businesses, city departments, churches and more as people representing them march through town.
He encouraged everyone to join the committee at the courthouse, after the parade, where honorary guests Bob Staton and Ron Harlan would plug in the chamber's Christmas tree for its lighting.
Elected officials from the area will also celebrate with special displays that night. They will decorate their exhibits around the courthouse to celebrate alongside the chamber.
He said this year, Christmas in Proctor Park will be a little different from 2021. He stated Christmas displays at the park last year seemed somewhat cramped, so this year he plans to remedy the issue by giving each its own space for room. Clenin brought long wooden stakes with the names of local businesses to demonstrate how far apart the displays would be for the upcoming event.
All displays must to be set up by 5 p.m. Dec. 2. Clenin clarified the stakes will be removed by 3:30 p.m. Dec. 3 before the parade.
Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus will return to handout candy canes to children and their families through a special drive-thru event Dec. 17. Parents can stop by and grab a candy cane from Santa for the holidays.
Chamber Executive Secretary Sandra Ratcliff also added onto Clenin's report, stating city electric department supervisor Tyler Dicus reached out to California schools for participation in the event as well. He has asked a group at the school to design an ornament to hang out at Proctor Park.