‘Great things happen’

BIG LAKE — The Christmas Parade has returned for the second time in the small town of Big Lake. Well over a hundred people showed up Saturday night to take in the illuminating lights, festive floats, and sounds of holiday cheer.

On a somewhat warmer evening, Big Lake Road was temporarily blocked off so a handful of floats could amble down the road under the direction of several fire engines, ambulances, and police vehicles illuminating the dark night with flashing lights. Starting from Big Lake Elementary School, the parade slowly made its way down the road to loop around the roundabout near the post office before dispersing at the Big Lake Lions Club Rec Center. Along the way, there was a tree-lighting ceremony at Jordan Lake. Some floats played classic Christmas tunes. Big Lake Elementary, Meadow Lakes Elementary, and Houston High School students sang Christmas carols along the parade path, some walking and some from the bed of a truck. Everyone in the parade waved to the crowds and cried out, “Merry Christmas!”

“Any Christmas spirit is good,” parade viewer Mike Butcher said.

Butcher and his wife live in Big Lake. They made it back from Willow just in time to catch the parade. Although modest in size, the parade left a good impression on the couple. Butcher said that the Colony Christmas parade started out small like this, and he thinks this new tradition is sure to grow each year. While the Tree Lighting ceremony has been a custom for over a decade, the parade is only in its second year. The Big Lake Chamber of Commerce has been at the helm for the tree lighting. They worked with the Big Lake Lions Club for the parade. According to the chamber’s administrative assistant, Deb Kirk, the chamber will be closing soon, but the parade isn’t going anywhere.

“Chamber or no chamber, we’re having a parade,” Kirk said.

After the parade, flocks of people migrated to the Big Lake Lions Club Rec Center to warm up with free hot cocoa, coffee, and cookies. The Big Lake Lions gave people the chance to ice skate in the center for free (after signing a waiver and a $3 skate rental). A good chunk of the parade crowd threw on a pair of skates and circled around the ice with their family and friends. Outside the entrance, a group of children sang Christmas carols under the direction of Big Lake Elementary School music teacher Chrissy Hardman. The choir was a mix of the three schools in the parade.

“We’ve been nervous and excited about this all week,” said one choir mom, Jill Hickman.

The students practiced before school early every Wednesday and Thursday for over a month. According to Hickman, they put a lot of time and effort into the choir. During their big number, the students harmoniously sang traditional Christmas songs while Hardman orchestrated. Parents circled around them and recorded the performance on their phones, smiling and applauding.

“She is so good with the kids,” Hickman said.

According to Hardman, the choir’s float broke down right before the parade, so they had to scramble. They quickly coordinated and got a truck for the kids to hop in. Hardman and a few students walked alongside the truck and sang carols in the parade. After dozens of hours of preparation, they weren’t going to let a hiccup get in their way.

“It was a lot of working getting here, but it was a lot of fun,” Hardman said.

As Big Lake Lions Club Past President, Bill Haller, stood inside the Rec Center entrance, he greeted people and mingled with those he knew. He went upstairs to the warm meeting room/viewing area with windows looking out to the ice rink. The Rec Center was built in 2010 and became the new meeting place for the Lions, recovery groups, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, the chamber, and others. As Haller looked through the windows, dozens of people skated around the rink. He reflected on the formation of this building, funded by a small town of about 3,500 people, where “everybody knows everybody.” With the help of several sponsors, the community raised over $500,000 to establish the Rec Center.

“If everyone gets together, great things happen,” Haller said.

Kirk said that once the chamber is gone, people will notice that many of the events they’ve grown fond of won’t be happening. She sees this transitional period as a cleansing, “like a fire.” She hopes there will be a call for action and people will get together and bring the chamber back to life.

“This is an amazing community,” Kirk said.

The Big Lake Rec Center has free open skating every Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. every Sunday. It also hosts “Shinny Hockey,” a simple and open group of people playing hockey every Saturday from 9 to 11 p.m. and 8 to 10 p.m. every Monday. According to Haller, it’s comprised of whoever shows up, like “backyard hockey.” Helmets are required and it costs $5 to play. There will be no Shinny Hockey next week since there will be a high school hockey tournament, where schools from across the state come to compete.