Commerce – In the spirit of the season, the Commerce Chamber of Commerce will offer many gifts at no charge at the annual Christmas parade through the downtown area on Thursday, Dec. 2.
Free carriage rides, hot chocolate on the square, brownies and holiday punch at the Chamber office, and an open house with goodies at the public library.
The parade will leave from the City Park at 7 p.m. to make its way along Park, Main, and Washington streets. As the final surprise in the parade, Santa Claus will be tossing candy to youngsters along the route.
Reservations for free carriage rides before and after the parade can be made on the square starting just before the event begins.
At the Chamber of Commerce from 4 until 7 p.m. regional wood crafters will be solving Christmas shopping problems by displaying and selling their broad array of gifs made of bois d'arc. Jim Conrad, recognizable as the man dressed as a bois d'arc tree, will be demonstrating how he makes dye, paper, and flowers from the tree.
He will be selling his Brief History of the Bois d'Arc Tree. Art Hendrix will have lathed pencils and pens, vases, key rings, bottle stoppers, and ring holders. Jay and Kent Garrett will attract shoppers with their witty and decorative signs, attitude adjusters, and rolling pins. Jerry Lytle will offer unique bois d'arc d cor pieces, forever sticks, hiking sticks, and walking sticks canes and canes.
Fred Tarpley will autograph his new book, Wood Eternal: The Story of Osage Orange, Bois d'Arc, etc and extolling the unknown powers of bois d'arc magic mulch souvenir packets, ideal as Christmas stocking stuffers.
The Commerce Chamber of Commerce will have a variety of sizes of Bois d'Arc Bash tee shirts, and the Commerce Public Library will satisfy Christmas shoppers with its recent publication, A Pictorial History of Commerce.
The Bois d'Arc Christmas Bazaar will be repeated on Saturday, Dec. 11, from 1 until 5 p.m. at the Chamber. On both occasions hosts will be present to guide visitors through the Bois d'Arc Heritage Exhibit in the lobby of the Chamber. The exhibit in display cases is a collection of bois d'arc crafts and historical relics contributed by Commerce area citizens. The Chamber is celebrating the holiday season with emphasis on its title as Bois d'Arc Capital of Texas.
A community Christmas tree and festive lighting were completed in downtown Commerce earlier this week by Gene Casselberry and his crew of volunteer decorators. The sparking lights will be a festive background for the parade.