Mother Nature smiled on Wetumpka’s Christmas on the Coosa this past Saturday, allowing the thousands of participants and attendees time to take in all of the day’s offerings. The first sprinkles of rain coincided with the final blaze and rumble of fireworks.
“I am just so glad the vendors, the street parade and evening activities didn’t get rained out this year,” said Gwen Turner, Wetumpka special events assistant. “We had a wonderful turnout, and we heard a lot of people comment that this was the biggest crowd they had ever seen.”
The day’s activities be gan with the second annual Children’s Character Breakfast, where more than 400 children and adults packed the Wetumpka Civic Center. Guests enjoyed a pancake breakfast; then met various princesses, superheroes and other popular characters. The Wetumpka Elementary School clown troupe also entertained and Santa was a surprise visitor.
Other morning action included the annual 12Ks of Christmas run, browsing at vendor booths, performances by various entertainers, children’s games and activities, sampling offerings from concession stalls, and viewing the entries in the art show, quilt show and car show.
The numbers swelled as parade time approached and vehicles lined the shoulder of U.S. Highway 231 on the hill above the city. Crowds lined both sides of the bridge and packed the streetside curbs six deep in some places to watch the annual procession.
Activities concluded with a concert by the Wetumpka Pops Band, followed by the return of the boat parade on the river and the much-heralded fireworks grand finale.
“An event like this wouldn’t be possible without the teamwork of city employees and volunteers,” said Turner. “Everyone worked hard together to get everything done and there were no major problems.”
This year marked the 27th consecutive year that the event has officially been held as Christmas on the Coosa. We tumpka’s first Christmas street parade was held in 1972, the city’s inaugural boat parade in 1981 and the first Christmas on the Coosa event in 1984.