Santa returns for second annual Hampshire Holiday Parade Dec. 11

Last year's Hampshire Holiday Parade was such a success that they are building on it and looking to bring more fun to the village.

This year, in addition to the parade through the neighborhoods at dusk, they are adding a scavenger hunt, holiday lights competition, and holiday fest with the lighting prior to the parade.

The Hampshire Holiday Fest & Parade will be 2:30 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, downtown.

The parade kicks off at dusk with the village's tree lighting at the village hall, 234 S. State St. as the parade passes by.

The parade is scheduled to line up at 4 p.m. at Hampshire Middle School, with the start at 5 p.m.

The village will be closing the street from Jackson to Jefferson, while Santa and the Grinch are visiting the village along with carolers, games, crafts, and other fun activities.

The parade route will be similar to the route used last year. To accommodate the need for social distancing and to ease parking constraints, Santa had so much fun in the ladder truck last year that he will be returning to ride atop the ladder truck again. To see the route of Santa's Parade through the Hampshire neighborhoods, visit www.tinyurl.com/HampshireParadeRoute.

Many local businesses, organizations, and other government bodies are working together to bring the community an afternoon focused on fun for kids.

Century 21 New Heritage is conducting the decorating contest. Learn more at www.facebook.com/Century21NewHeritage/.

As part of the festival, there also will be a clothing/blanket drive as well as collecting food donations this year for the less fortunate.

For updates, go to www.facebook.com/hampshirevillage.

Kids also can drop off a letter to Santa in the mailbox on the front of the village hall, 234 S. State St. As long as an address is included, the elves will make sure the letter gets delivered to the North Pole in time to get a response from the big guy.