Flandreau Holiday Parade planning underway • “Hometown Holiday Heroes”

Flandreau’s holiday parade will feature entries from local businesses, organizations and families who want to celebrate the parade’s salute to hometown heroes.
Cindy Deutscher, a PA-C with Avera Flandreau who is retiring soon, will lead the Nov. 28 “Holiday Hometown Heroes” parade. She, along with Santa and Mrs. Claus, will appear in a horse-drawn wagons-weather permitting.
Several businesses will offer holiday treats during the festivities, including hot cocoa at the Bar X Bar, popcorn at The Personal Touch, cider at First National Bank and candy canes at the Moody County Enterprise. Hunkake Café will be selling roasted chestnuts and Tom & Jerrys, with proceeds being donated to Riverview Manor’s food program.
Other businesses known to be open during the evening, including the Flandreau Bistro and Roasterie, and a new Christmas tree lot on Second Avenue, Bend in the River Trees, which will be operated by Carleen and Casey Wilson.

The parade lineup time has been changed back to 5:30 p.m. with the parade start at 6 p.m. from the Moody County Courthouse. The route will be west to Center Street, north to Second Avenue, east to Prairie Street and south back to 3rd Avenue and to the courthouse.
After the parade ends, a tree lighting will take place at the Veteran’s memorial on the courthouse lawn, followed by caroling onsite.
Because of concerns about spreading COVID-19, Santa will not pose for photos and children won’t be able to sit on his lap. Those planning on attending the event on what is traditionally called Small Business Saturday are asked to enjoy the evening but also take precautions in the spirit of the city’s resolution to wear masks around others and physically distancing when possible.
Parade participants are asked to register by Nov. 25 so that a parade lineup can be planned. To register, call Kim Hansen at 864-1720 or email kimberhansen@hotmail.com. She said that entries are starting to come in now.
A flier was dropped at several area businesses last week to provide information and encourage participation. Any businesses that unintentionally got missed in the delivery, should call Hansen for details.
The parade committee also has a Facebook Event page titled “Flandreau’s Hometown Holiday Heroes Parade” in which the invitation to join the parade is posted for others such as organizations and families to view and get information.
Awards for best floats will be given in each category – business, organization and family -- at the discretion of local judges Dan Gile, Ashley Headrick and Vicki Solem.
Several groups are helping with the events, including downtown businesses, the Flandreau Development Corporation, the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe, the city of Flandreau and Moody County.