NORTH VERNON — There is a lot of work to be done to get ready for a visit from Santa Clause, and employees of North Vernon City Street Department have been hard at it for two weeks and they aren’t done yet.
“We will get it all done. We always do,” said Gary Williams, as he prepared to unload a giant Christmas wreath from a trailer at the back of a North Vernon city truck.
City employees are working together to get ready for the Christmas in the City event in Downtown North Vernon on Dec 7.
The annual event is free and open to the public. It will include a parade through downtown North Vernon, visits with Santa Clause, music, train rides for children and surprises.
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“We have already got the street lights up and the angels are already standing in Stellar Plaza. We are making progress. It will be ready,” Street Department employee Mike Bott said.
“Yeah, it doesn’t matter if it’s raining or snowing or there’s a bunch of wind —we have got to go to get this done in time. You should have seen us last week putting up those lights in that freezing rain,” said a laughing Street Department Employee, Melvin Marksberry.
A new challenge for the street department employees will be to figure out how to put up giant snowflake decorations that will be new additions to the extensive Holiday decorations.
“You cannot just slap things up. You have to be sure they are tied down just right. You have to be sure they are safe,” Williams said.
“Some other offices have helped too. Even the mayor’s secretary Tanya (Burnette) has been down decorating the caboose down by the police station with some other volunteers,” Marksberry added. “It’s a lot of work for everyone but we will get it done and it will be worth it. It will be a good time.”
The Christmas In The City event will begin with music starting at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7. There will be a parade through downtown North Vernon beginning at 5:30 p.m.
There will be a North Pole village in front of the Police Station where children can visit Santa Clause and real, live reindeer. Sahara the Camel and friends from Muscatatuck Urban Training Center will be in Stellar Plaza. The Live Nativity scene will return this year and local Church Choirs will provide traditional Christmas Music. There will also be warming stations and food booths.
