Like many of you I had many reasons to approach this Christmas season with angst and disappointment, especially given the ravages of Covid-19 and a United States divided like we have not seen since the Civil War (why it was called civil, I will never know). What changed all of this for me and renewed my spirit and energy was Jacksonville’s unique Victorian Christmas. What a success it was.

It all started for us with the ceremonial tree lighting at New City Hall on November 27. The 300-400 people in attendance filled the courtyard and lined the sidewalks on both sides of 5th Street. A group of musicians from Jacksonville Presbyterian started the festivities with rousing and well amplified Christmas carols and songs. Then Santa (Father Christmas) arrived on the trolley to the cheers of the crowd and the delight of the many children in attendance. The actual tree lighting was carefully choregraphed by Santa’s elves. Any number of attendees commented that, “If we just had snow, this would have been a Hallmark movie.”

Immediately after the tree lighting ceremony we moved on to a tamale feed at the Jacksonville Community Center where one could enjoy a tamale, a southwest US tradition. By the time we made the walk, there was a lengthy but friendly line. There was no charge for the tamales, but a donation was encouraged with the proceeds going to Rogue Retreat, a Jackson County organization serving the homeless of Jackson and Josephine Counties. This eventually led to a $500 donation to Rogue Retreat.

While the tree lighting kicked-off Jacksonville’s Victorian Christmas, the big event was the Christmas parade at 10:00 AM on December 4, and my what a parade it was. For any number of years my wife and I have enjoyed being parade marshals and, after the parade was cancelled last year, it was good to again put on our orange vests for this year’s event. We had the largest number of entries we have seen since we started marshaling. This included the marching bands from both South and North High Schools and the pep band from SOU. Equally impressive was the number of people in attendance. It was, by far, the largest turnout that we have seen in all the years we’ve been coming to the parade. I don’t know how many times we heard, “People are just anxious to get out and see something positive.” The parade provided that opportunity.

The tradition of some parade marshals is to gather after the parade at the large table at Boomtown Saloon to review the parade, discuss any issues we might have had and suggest improvements for the future. I can tell you the gathering this year was festive and upbeat. In addition, we were able to watch the many people milling around on California Street and enjoy seeing the line of kids waiting to see Santa. It had to be a good day for our Jacksonville merchants as we saw many people toting bags, representing purchase. This reminded me of my own shopping tradition. For the past ten years I do all my Christmas shopping in Jacksonville. For one, that is my small statement of support for Jacksonville businesses, and I can always find unique and appropriate gifts for my wife. Plus, I always reward myself with a coffee or adult beverage as I conclude my shopping. Not a bad way to go.

There are many other positive aspects of the four weeks of Victorian Christmas such as the carolers, Santa, the town crier and the free warm cider, all of which help to make the Jacksonville Christmas time so encouraging and fun. I look forward to seeing you all next year.