Communities Ready to Ring in the Holiday Season

It’s officially December and the Christmas spirit will soon sweep its way through Clinton County and Northwest Missouri.

The holiday season officially kicks off in Downtown Plattsburg this Friday, December 4, at 7 p.m., with Mayor Dave Schauer’s downtown lighting ceremony in the pocket park, followed by the annual lighted Christmas parade.

Because of the pandemic, the parade route will be extended this year, beginning at Perkins Park, traveling west along 116 Highway (Clay Avenue), turning north at Fourth Street, then east at Broadway, north on Main Street through downtown, then west on Maple Street for several blocks.

Families can take part in several activities ahead of the parade. Beginning at 4 p.m., there will be a Journey to the North Pole scavenger hunt, kids games, train rides, a sweet shop for your holiday shopping, music, a visit from Santa, and more. For a full schedule, visit the Plattsburg Community Christmas page on Facebook.

As is tradition in Plattsburg, the Hartzell family will be collecting toys for Toys for Tots. New, unwrapped toys can be dropped off at the construction shop at 1103 W. Clay Avenue. Call the office and they can come out and pick up the toys.

Gower will also open the Christmas season this weekend with Christmas in the Park and the Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting on Sunday, December 6, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in City Park. It will be a drive-in program. The Gower Area Chamber of Commerce will be announcing the winner of the Shop Gower Campaign and its annual Person of the Year.

Lathrop will host its Christmas Wonderland downtown on Saturday, December 12, beginning at 5 p.m. and running into the evening. Events will include a lighted Christmas parade, the mayor’s Christmas tree lighting, a living nativity, cookies with Santa and much more.