Crisp Weather Welcomes Miracles At Main & Market Celebration
Santa Claus exchanged his traditional sleigh for a shiny red firetruck on Saturday night as he made his way in to Nappanee for the town’s annual Miracles at Main & Market Street celebration. (Photos by Keith Knepp)
NAPPANEE — What started in 2007 as a community rallying together following a devastating tornado has become one of Nappanee’s most anticipated events. On Saturday, Dec. 7, hundreds of people once again lined Main Street to witness the 13th iteration of the now-annual parade. Marching southward through town, the throng eventually made its way to the town’s pavilion to enjoy a short program, cookies and cocoa.
While previous versions of the Miracles at Main & Market Street celebration were marred by bitterly cold weather and snow, this year’s version enjoyed cold but clear weather, which was easily endured with a variety of hats, gloves and warm coats.
In Oct. 2007, a tornado ripped through this southwest Elkhart County community. The inaugural event served as a show of support by the community for families struggling to put their lives back together.
“We are blessed to kick off the holiday season with families in our community each year,” said Allison Stair, chairperson of the celebration ‘s organizational committee.
Following the 30-minute parade, which included the arrival of Santa Claus atop of the city’s shiny red firetrucks, many of the parade’s viewers gathered under the pavilion to hear the New Generation Choir, made up of many young students from the Wa-Nee school district. They also heard Mayor Phil Jenkins read the Christmas story and the annual lighting of the town’s Christmas tree, which this year was harvested from Stauffer Park in Nappanee.
Nappanee Mayor Phil Jenkins reads the Christmas story following the town’s 13th annual Miracles & Main & Market Street parade.
A traditional candle lighting accompanied the singing of the holiday staple, “Silent Night.”
A pair of camels led the way down Main Street in Nappanee during the 2019 Miracles at Main & Market Street parade.
The Wuthrichs of Nappanee braved the crisp December weather to join hundreds of their friends and neighbors to watch the town’s annual holiday parade.
Sheep and their herders made their way through the streets of Nappanee on Saturday, Dec. 7.
The Nappanee community came together under the town’s pavilion to light candles and sing “Silent Night.”
Young singers from Wa-Nee schools came together as the New Generation Choir and perform for the community on Saturday, Dec. 7.
Many entries made their way down the streets of Nappanee as part of the 2019 Main & Market Street Parade, including the Wakarusa Maple Syrup Festival queen and her court.
Many costumed characters were part of the crowd under the Nappanee pavilion on Saturday, Dec. 7.
Hannah Chupp, Callie Johnson and Joselyn Edwards were three of the hundreds who flocked to the streets of Nappanee and its pavilion for the the 2019 Miracles at Main & Market Street celebration.
Cookies and hot cocoa awaited parade viewers as part of the Miracles at Main & Market Street celebration.
