Mt. Vernon Chamber’s Christmas on the Square features courthouse lighting, performance by Sassy Starlettes

With parade scrapped for 2020, virtual event the best option for annual chamber affair
 
The Mt. Vernon Area Chamber of Commerce marked the 2020 Christmas on the Square with a special lighting of the Lawrence County Historic Courthouse which was shown live on Facebook on Tuesday, Dec. 1. While the public was encouraged to watch the event online, people were still welcome to attend the event if they watched from their cars or practiced social distancing.
Normally, Christmas on the Square features several events, including a parade, refreshments and pictures with Santa. Chamber Director Pam Dudley said due to the pandemic this year, the chamber was forced to cancel these events in the interest of public safety.
“For the last five years,” she said, “Christmas on the Square has grown tremendously. While we are thrilled about that, cutting back the event was the only way to manage potential crowd size. We eliminated the parade, music, free prizes, free food and visits with Santa. We love our community and hope to be back to normal celebrations in 2021. We still lit the Historic Courthouse and welcomed the new addition of a real tree on the green space sponsored by the Community Garden and new wreaths to adorn the light posts leading to the square by Community Betterment and local businesses.”
 Christmas on the Square did have one new feature this year though, a performance by the Sassy Starlettes, a local junior dance team.
“The Sassy Starlettes had a wonderful Christmas dance routine performed just for their families,” Dudley said. “Their other events had been canceled for December so this gave them an opportunity to show off their skills. (They) also helped us countdown to light up the square.”
Despite the fact that this year’s Christmas on the Square was a smaller event than in recent years, a number of people still came to watch the lighting of the courthouse in person. Dudley said this was because the place continues to capture the spirit of the holiday.
“No matter the season people are still drawn to the old-time square as a gathering place,” she said. “With the backdrop of shimmering lights and crisp air, it sets the mood for the upcoming Christmas holiday. We appreciate living in rural America and celebrating with our friends and neighbors.”