I love small towns and the parades they have. I’ve seen cars, trucks and tractors pulling floats for homecoming, celebrating the nation’s birthday or honoring our veterans. I think there is something unique about how some small towns celebrate holidays and Christmas is certainly one that you can find some in small towns going all out whether it is with Christian images or something less religious.

When I moved to the Mississippi Delta, I wasn’t sure what I would be getting into. I was coming from New York and I was sure there would be some major differences. I was so used to the Macy’s parade, the Rockettes at Radio City and all.  My thoughts of living in small towns came from trips through the south and some small towns I had been to were prone to celebrating Christmas on Main Street or in the town square, maybe showing Santa as a farmer. But the part of the Delta I moved to was different.

Some of you may have read a previous post about Deer Creek and the tranquility of being on the banks. I wrote last winter talks about the uniqueness of the Mississippi Delta. And everyone know that when you think of the Mississippi Delta, great blues music comes to mind!

My First Christmas on the Creek

The first year I was there, I remember a discussion about whether our department would be doing a float for Christmas. I was naive and thought it was the kind pulled by a truck or tractor! Imagine my surprise when we were talking about how much weight the buoyancy of the floats could take.  Seriously.

The various departments at the office would sign up to do floats as would the volunteer fire department. My favorite of the floats was the one with the Peanuts! I really wish I could find photos of my first Christmas on the Creek, but more recent ones will be fine.

Christmas on the Creek

Last winter as I drove down through the Delta to see Miss Dot, After visiting with her, buying pecans and getting some hot tamales, I realized there was just one more place to visit before heading up north to Memphis…. Deer Creek in Leland to see the floats!

Like other towns, there is a broad range of floats from the  deeply religious scenes of the nativity to more contemporary Santa. I like the ones that express the most Delta pieces… like the High 61 blues float and the one that touts the local hometown superstar, Kermit the Frog. Hope you enjoy the slideshow I made putting the photos to the music of Mack Rice doing “Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin’.”