Downtown Cushing’s Old Fashioned Christmas was held Thursday evening, Dec. 4. Two to three hundred children got to visit with Santa Claus courtesy of SpiritBank and US Martial Arts Training Center. Each child received a free stuffed animal courtesy of Santa Claus and an anonymous local business. US Martial Arts students acted as Santa’s helpers while parents of the students handed out hot chocolate and cookies to visitors. Photos of the children with Santa are posted online on Downtown Cushing’s Myspace page in the photo album section. They may be viewed and downloaded by going to www.Myspace.com/cushingoklahoma.com
Free carriage rides via ‘Pawnee Bill’s’ horse Wye were provided courtesy of Bank of Cushing. Cassie Everett was on hand for the community Christmas tree lighting the first of it’s kind in Downtown Centennial Park. Cassie is new to the Promotion committee and the community Christmas tree was her idea. The 9 foot tree was provided courtesy of Lowe’s in Stillwater. Several children came to help decorate the tree and Santa arrive precisely at 5:30 pm to preside over the official tree lighting. Downtown strollers continued to visit Centennial Park throughout the chilly evening.
Headed up perennially by Kelly Dilley and crew, ‘Kids Town’ served about two hundred children shoppers this year with plenty of youthful volunteers on hand to assist. Chamber director Holly Tichenor and husband Joe as well as economic development director, Bob Felts were on hand to loan their expertise to the event.
Vendors included Darla McNeal, Connie Liebenau of Old Songs Sung Here, Fibbers Closet, the Treasure Chest, Boy Howdy, Opal’s, Sharon Marcum of Broadway Mall, Rick’s Pets and Supplies and others.
Entertainment at the Community Theatre included a Christmas story reading by Laura Lou Pierson, a martial arts demonstration by students of US Martial Arts Training Center. The finale was a ‘reading’ of John Henry Faulk’s NPR classic Christmas Story by ‘Fred’, the mannequin-mascot of Morehouse Appliance.
Fred looks so life like in his seated pose he has fooled many customers.
This was Fred’s first stage appearance and he was enjoyed by all.
Old Fashioned Christmas is Downtown Cushing’s signature event.
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