The Bruce Lions’ Club Christmas Parade and a handful of surrounding events have been canceled due to COVID-19, but parades in Calhoun City and Vardaman are moving forward as scheduled.
The Bruce parade was set for Saturday, Dec. 5 at 4:30 p.m., but Lions’ Club President Jerry Janci announced late last week the annual event will not take place.
“I believe this is the prudent thing to do as the COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are increasing at an alarming rate,” Janci said. “I do not want to sponsor an event that might lead to sickness or worse.”
Janci said he voiced his concerns with Mayor Rudy Pope last week prior to making the decision to get feedback from the town as well.
“I wanted to know their opinion. We were worried about being able to properly social distance and enforce mask wearing on floats and for all the parade watchers,” Janci said. “With Tupelo, Pontotoc and Oxford all canceling theirs as well, we just thought it was the right, safe decision.”
Mayor Pope said when planning for the parade first began the town board was in favor of moving forward with it by a 3-2 vote. After being contacted by Janci last week, he “polled” the board again and it was 3-2 against.
“Ultimately it is the Lions’ Club’s decision,” Mayor Pope said. “I personally wasn’t for having it, but I was willing to support whatever we wanted to do.”
The parade cancellation also cancels Santa’s traditional visits in the square gazebo prior to the parade. The Bruce Rotary Club has canceled their annual Christmas auction and the ribbon-cutting planned for the new walk/bike path on parade day at Bruce Park is also canceled.
“We’re going to wait until spring for that,” Pope said regarding the bike path.
The Bruce 20th Century Club’s Pancakes with Santa event in the Bruce Museum is still on, but will be take-out only. The club will also sponsor a gingerbread house contest. Those entries can be dropped off when picking up pancakes and they will be judged with winners announced later.
The 20th Century Club will also hold its Christmas Lighting Contest December 9.
A “Rudolph Run” at the bike/walk path will be held Dec. 5 and the Bruce Chamber is exploring other options for events around Christmas.
The Calhoun City Parade will take place Saturday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. The parade was moved from its original Dec. 5 date to make certain the CCHS band would be available.
The Calhoun City Chamber of Commerce will host a Bingo and soup fundraiser in the Methodist Corner starting at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5. Soup tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door.
The New Century Club has canceled its lamp lighting ceremony on the square in Calhoun City, but will still hold its Christmas lights contest for homes and businesses.
The Vardaman Christmas Parade is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 7 at 6:30 p.m. with lineup beginning at 6 p.m.
The parade will take its usual route down Main Street beginning up near Vardaman Methodist Church.
There will also be a Christmas Bazaar held on Main Street Saturday, Dec. 5.
The Big Creek “Redneck” Christmas Parade is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 19 at 6 p.m. Mayor Dwight Devall said they would monitor the COVID-19 situation but are moving forward as of now.