MEDORA

When you hold an event outdoors on the first Saturday in December in Indiana, it’s difficult to predict the weather.

As a rule, it’s likely to be cold and snowy and perhaps even a bit blustery, but Saturday, Mother Nature threw the organizers of the annual Medora Christmas Festival a curveball.

“We’ve had snow. We’ve had to take a plow truck down the road in front of the parade. We’ve had below-zero weather. We’ve had 60-degree weather,” festival President Rachel Ault said. “This is my first time dealing with rain.”

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Rain fell steady throughout the early morning hours before clearing enough to allow for some live entertainment on the stage for a couple of hours. Then steady rain fell from noon until the start of the parade at 1 p.m., and then it quit falling sometime during the parade.

The on and off rain, however, didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of those in attendance, including Wilma Lee, who made the trip from her home in Columbus to catch up with family and catch the parade.

“My mother (Verla Johnson) used to love this day,” said Lee, who lived in Medora as a child. “She lived on the front street there (Main Street). She made pies, and everybody stopped into have a piece of coconut pie.”

Lee said continues to come down for the parade every time she has the chance.

“It’s just reminiscing for me,” she said.

On Saturday, that included spending time with her sister, Becky Fisher, who lives in Medora and attends every parade.

Mary Cowles of Medora brought her two great-grandsons, Jairston Slick, 8, and Jaylex Slick, 7.

“This is the first year I’ve had my great-grandsons with me, but I try to come every year,” said Cowles, who is a member of the festival committee.

Both boys said they liked the parade.

Jaylex said he liked seeing the bright red cars, while Jairston wasn’t sure what he liked most about the parade.

Both boys, however, liked the candy thrown out by parade participants.

“I’ve got bags full,” Jaylex said.

The first Medora Christmas Parade was Dec. 16, 1972. The 45-minute parade featured eight floats entered by the four classes at Medora High School. The sophomore class swept top honors, winning both the floating trophy given to the best school entry and first place in the open class, which paid $25.

Ault, who has been president of the board for three years, said the tradition of the school participating in the festival has kind of faded away over the years.

Each class planned to enter a float in this year’s parade but didn’t because of the threat of inclement weather, Ault said.

“We’re hoping to get the school more involved,” she said.

Board member Tim Reynolds said when he was attending the high school in the late 1980s, each class was still entering a float.

“It was something you did, and it was expected of you,” he said. “We had fun with it.”

He said now, students are given the choice, but he would like to see it become something students would again be expected to do.

The fire department also had a stronger presence with the event in the past, and Reynolds said the board has been working with firefighters to do more.

He said Friday night’s activities were well-attended, and he would like to see that grow more.

Friday’s activities featured a Christmas tree lighting ceremony outside the library, a live Nativity scene and the holiday lights contest.

Besides the parade, Saturday’s activities included entertainment on the stage and the crowning of the festival prince, Andrew Parish of Medora, and princess, Gracie Daulton of Medora. Parish, 4, is the son of Kristy and Brandon Parish, while Daulton, 4, is the daughter of Abigail Berry and Monty Daulton.

Santa also stopped by the Medora Public Library to visit with children after the parade, and the day ended with the Christmas Ball at the Carr Township Conservation Club.