Residents of Forsyth and surrounding communities took time away from busy holiday preparations to enjoy festive events last weekend, turning out in full force for the annual Christmas parade on Saturday, December 14, and the annual holiday music concert on Sunday, December 15.
Saturday was a beautiful sunny day for the parade, sponsored by the Forsyth Area Chamber of Commerce, as it made its way from the high school to Hwy. 160 and then toward downtown and the Taney County Courthouse area. There were several floats sponsored by area businesses and churches, along with creatively decorated ATVs, classic cars and trucks, and vintage farm equipment. Several horses sported holiday garland and costumed riders, and in the “only in the Ozarks” category, a couple of them were spotted in the McDonald’s drive-through afterwards.
The giving spirit of the season was also evident. Eager children held out their hands to catch stuffed animals, collected by Forsyth Welding through the generosity of other area businesses and individuals, tossed to the children along the route. An area church distributed knitted stocking caps from their float to anyone who needed or wanted one, and kids in attendance toted bags bulging with candy.
On Sunday afternoon, parents and friends gathered at the Performing Arts Center at Forsyth High School for the annual Christmas concert. The concert began with traditional carols by the Forsyth middle school choir, directed by Payton Burnett. Earlier last week, the choir presented holiday music for Forsyth Area Chamber of Commerce members at their December luncheon meeting. The choir portion of the concert wrapped up with a Christmas sing-along, with audience members invited to participate in familiar songs and carols.
The band portion of the concert included the sixth grade beginning band, seventh/eighth grade middle school band, and high school band, directed by Philip Thomas. Introducing the groups, Mr. Thomas shared that middle school band members Slaten Gass, saxophone, and Eva Estes, percussion, did an outstanding job representing Forsyth in the recent all-district middle school band held at Logan-Rogersville.
Following the concert, the performers and their families and friends enjoyed cookies and hot cocoa together.