By EMMA MILNER | City of Arkadelphia

ARKADELPHIA — The City of Arkadelphia, the Arkadelphia Alliance and Area Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Arkadelphia organization are partnering to host a series of holiday events from November 20 to December 15. 

Presented by the Arkadelphia A&P Commission, “Yule Love Christmas in Arkadelphia” will feature a variety of holiday-themed events. 

The series will kick off on Sunday, November 20, with the chamber’s annual Holiday Open House. The open house is always held the Sunday before the Thanksgiving holiday, and encourages area residents to shop small businesses when purchasing seasonal gifts. The Holiday Open House will be held from noon to 4 p.m. A full list of participating businesses can be found on the chamber’s website. 

On Thursday, December 1, the Arkadelphia Christmas Parade Committee will host its annual Christmas parade. The parade will begin at 5 p.m. on Main Street. The application to participate can be found on the Arkadelphia Christmas Parade Committee’s Facebook page, as well as the Yule Love Christmas in Arkadelphia Facebook page. 

Immediately following the annual Christmas parade, a new interactive holiday experience will begin. The Chamber of Commerce will hold a ceremonial ribbon cutting for Prancer’s Plaza, a holiday themed downtown scene in Town Square. The area will mimic a Hallmark Christmas movie set, complete with 20 holiday-themed building facades, holiday music and a Christmas tree farm. Each building façade will be sponsored by a different local business or organization. Following the ribbon cutting, these local businesses are invited to provide some sort of activity at their “storefront.” The activities will only be available the night of December 1. Prancer’s Plaza will be open to the public throughout the month of December. Prancer’s Plaza will be open nightly from 5-9 p.m. until December 31. 

Santa Claus is coming to town on Thursday, December 15. Santa and his helpers will be set up in Prancer’s Plaza starting at 5 p.m. for photos. While waiting to meet Santa, area residents can enjoy a holiday-themed movie. City officials will be showing “Elf” starting at 5:30 p.m. Those in attendance are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs for the movie showing. 

Yule Love Christmas in Arkadelphia is set to make this holiday season in Arkadelphia unlike any before. City officials hope their partnership with the Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Arkadelphia organization will make Arkadelphia the “Christmas Capital of Southwest Arkansas.”