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With this year’s Joplin Christmas parade, organizers will create a "Winter Wonderland" in downtown Joplin. Officials unveiled the 54th annual Joplin Christmas parade theme Wednesday at Joplin City Hall. They said it’s a way to start the Christmas season in a magical fashion.
“When we think about Christmas, and we think about all that season embraces, 'Winter Wonderland' seems to be a natural fit,” said Joplin Mayor Keenan Cortez. “We all hope for that white Christmas and those times when families are gathered together, doing all the things that invoke the Christmas season.” The annual Christmas parade will take place at 6 p.
m. Tuesday, Dec. 3, in downtown Joplin.
Freeman Health System has produced the Joplin Christmas parade for the past 10 years. Paula Baker, Freeman Health System president and CEO, noted that while it wasn’t even Halloween yet, Freeman volunteers are busy preparing for the parade. “We are so honored and thankful that the city of Joplin entrusts us with this very important job.
It’s a big project, a fun one, but a big one,” Baker said. “It takes hundreds of volunteer hours and many, many dedicated hearts to pull an event of this magnitude off.” Each year, an organization is chosen to receive proceeds from the parade.
This year, the proceeds will go to the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. The organization helps families with children who have medical issues with things such as transportation, purchasing specialized medical equipment, even funding for trained service dogs. All of the money raised locally stays local and helps children in 14 counties across Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas.
“This is such a worthy cause, and I know from experience our community wholeheartedly supports these services that are provided to our children and families," Baker said. “When you have a child that’s sick and needs extensive care, we really need to wrap our arms around those families and give them every support we possibly can.” Cortez also announced on Wednesday that Baker will be the grand marshal this year.
She has been president and CEO of Freeman for the past 13 years and announced her upcoming retirement earlier this year. Cortez noted that in her career Baker directed the Freeman response to the Joplin 2011 tornado, coordinated services during the COVID-19 pandemic, and managed the expansion of Freeman Hospital West in Joplin and start of construction for the Freeman hospital in Frontenac, Kansas. “We thank her for her service to the community these past years and find it very fitting that this year she is to serve as the Christmas parade’s grand marshal,” Cortez said.
For her part, Baker said she looks forward to the festive vibe of the parade. “The parade is always meaningful to me,” Baker said. “I’m always so proud of our staff that work so many hours to put it together so that it is a wonderful experience for the community.
I’m filled with pride for what they’re able to accomplish and their spirit of giving that makes it all work.” Organizers expect more than 100 entries that will evoke the holiday spirit, as well as local bands and streets lined with families. Cortez also hopes the event will help bring people together during the holiday season.
“In the times that we’re going through today, being able to have events that can bring the community together is just one of those wonderful things that we can enjoy as citizens in Southwest Missouri and the city of Joplin,” Cortez said. Registration has begun for parade entries. Businesses and organizations can register at freemanhealth.
com/christmasparade . Several other area communities have scheduled their annual Christmas parades, including: • The Webb City Christmas parade will be held at 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 4. The theme this year is "A Classic Christmas.
" • The Carthage Christmas parade will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec.
2. It will start at Main and Chestnut streets and circle around the square. This is the 51st year for the parade, and the theme is “Holiday Movie Magic.
” The parade is sponsored by the Carthage Technical Center’s SkillsUSA chapter. • The Carl Junction Christmas parade will be held at 2 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 8. This year’s theme is “A CJ Christmas with Santa.
” The Carl Junction Lions Club is hosting the event. • The Neosho Christmas parade will be held at 5 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 7, in downtown Neosho. This year’s theme is "Holly Jolly Movie Magic.
" The event is presented in partnership with Specialty Risk Insurance..
