A Very Cowan Christmas: Keeping True to Beloved Tradition
- Terri Carter
- 21 hours ago
- 3 min read
The streets of Cowan were filled with annual holiday tradition as the 61st Cowan Christmas Parade made its way through town last Saturday afternoon. With the parade starting at 1:00 and weather that felt more like early spring, the streets were filled with smiling community members and laughing children as they ran to fill their bags with the candy being thrown out by the parade participants. In conjunction with the parade and throughout the entire weekend, the Cowan Christmas Market was also open to the public, offering pictures with Santa, live entertainment, and local and regional vendors.
Starting on Friday evening at 4:00 p.m., Monterey Station opened its doors to the public, offering pictures with Santa, a live show from Step It Up Dance, the Cowan Community Choir, and live acoustic music until 9:00 p.m., along with shopping opportunities from local and regional vendors that included items from home décor, baked goods, clothes, jewelry, and other novelties.
On Saturday, pictures with Mickey Mouse were offered from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., a student recital from Let’s Make A Note took the stage from 11:00 to 12:00, and live acoustic music from David Watson closed out the music portion of the event, playing from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Vendors were still available for shopping and pictures with Santa were offered again from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., with the market vendors packing up their shops at 4:00.
The parade began at 1:00 on Saturday, and the streets of Cowan were lined with community members, eager to catch candy, carry on a family tradition, or watch their loved one perform in the parade. This year, the Grand Marshall for the parade was Fire Chief Tommy Myers, who is a devoted member to the Cowan community. Myers began his service to the City of Cowan in 1986 as a member of the water department and later became the Fire Chief in 1993.
Filling the streets was the traditional parade convoy of vehicles and community members. Local law enforcement, first responders, fire departments, and rescue squads drove by with blaring sirens, waving hands, and flying candy. Band members, dance teams, and athletic teams performed musical numbers, routines, and chants as they walked, danced, and rode by the spectators. Area businesses worked tirelessly on handcrafted, festive floats in an effort to showcase not only their business, but their community spirit. And the horses, motorcycles, four-wheelers, dirt bikes and ATV’s roared through the streets sporting Christmas decorations, music, and even the Grinch in a leather vest.
Santa Claus assumed his regular position as the last float of the parade, smiling and waving from atop a fire truck, as the children showed excitement for the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the magical man in the red suit.
As the 61st Annual Cowan Christmas Parade and Markets came to a close, the spirit of holiday and community lingered. When the final float passed and the sun set behind Monterey Station, the traditional event left everlasting memories and brought neighbors together in celebration of the season. The Cowan Christmas Parade and Markets captured the spirit of community and set a joyful tone for the holidays ahead.
