Spirit of Christmas

Chords of Christmas carols filled the air during the parade at the Night of Lights in Columbia Falls on Friday, Dec. 5. The voices of carolers from the United Methodist Church sang out from the float of the church. “The First Noel,” “Deck the Halls” and “Joy to the World” got the parade viewers to sing along and wave in response to the exuberant singing of the carolers.

Of course, more carols were sung and carolers waved Christmas joy to parade viewers. The parade caravan moved south on Nucleus Avenue entertaining the crowd with the variety of floats from businesses in Columbia Falls and the area.

The excitement of the kids, parents and neighbors coursed up and down the avenue. Viewers and carolers recognized each other, smiled and exchanged exuberant waves. The United Methodist Church offered free hot chocolate, coffee, cookies and popcorn balls from the office of Outside Media on Nucleus Avenue.

The joy of folks flowed from inside businesses to the sidewalks as people visited, kids wound between the adults playing and pets were bewildered at all the excitement.

I’m grateful to the owner of the truck and trailer for the float, those who decorated the float and provided straw bales with blankets to sit upon and the great folks who came to sing Christmas carols to folks along the parade route.

One of the carolers from United Methodist float exclaimed, “This was the best Christmas caroling I’ve ever had.” Yep, many of us agreed as we headed towards our vehicles and then home. The spirit of Christmas started well in Columbia Falls.

Ed Folkwein

Columbia Falls