Christmas in a Small Town

Last weekend, I enjoyed a fabulous time at the annual Christmas gathering of a group of women campers (correct–no men). We come in large and small RVs, hauling our travel trailers, or camping in cars and tents, from Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas, to the private campground of Washington Parish Fairgrounds, in the small town of Franklinton, Louisiana. We assembled our rigs on the grass beneath live oak and pine trees in much the same manner as did pioneer wagons in a circle.

We come to enjoy friendship and fun, and the Franklinton Christmas Festival, which this year included a Wild West Show in the fairgrounds arena, craft show and sale, fairgrounds food and live music, an amazing parade, and, unique to the Washington Parish Fairgrounds, the pioneer village of Mile Branch Settlement all decked out for the season.

I have no photos of the Wild West show, because my photos were all pitifully blurry. But here is the parade. Of course, the photos do not do justice and show only a fraction of floats and the magic.

I was a child again, oohing and aahing as I watched the the massive floats sparkling with colorful lights and blaring Christmas music, all the recognizable tunes from Rocking Around the Christmas Tree to Joy to the World, roll slowly past. I think most every church in and around Franklinton had a float, which tickled me to pieces. That is not something much seen in big cities. There was a nativity float, and floats with little churches and stars, and even a Jesus on a float holding his cross. There were floats spraying snow, and an enormous float with a big truck blowing a fog horn and hauling a dirt-digger strung with Christmas lights. And there were real and true marching bands from every high-school around, marching in glittery, sequined uniforms. And young women in tiaras riding high in convertibles, giving the beauty-queen wave to the crowd.

So many people of the entire parish came together and worked hard all year to create a parade that displayed all the wonder and joy of Christmastime. I smile even now to remember.

The Mile Branch Pioneer Village at the fairgrounds is made up of historical cabins of early settlers of Washington Parish. These rough-hewn homes and farm buildings, a school and a church belonged to actual people who lived and died within them. (Oh, yes, I listen carefully when I enter.) The buildings have been donated to the fairgrounds by descendants of those early settlers from all over the parish, and thus preserved for future generations to get a glimpse of the crafts and skills that it took to make a life nearly two hundred years ago.

I enjoy walking around the village, sitting in a rocker on a porch, stepping into the church and sitting on a pew for a few quiet moments. I rather say hello to the old buildings and offer respect to their stalwart endurance.

The village is open to the public on certain days and hours all year round. You can find out more here and here.

Christmas in the small town of Franklinton is a precious and priceless reminder of the highest and best that we all aim for in life. If you need a boost in your spirit, go there for a visit.

Merry Christmas!

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