By Amy Meyer / Mineral Wells Area News
The annual Merry Wells Festival was held last weekend in downtown Mineral Wells but that certainly doesn’t mean the holiday cheer has ended.
Actually, it was really just the kick off to the season but according to Main Street Manager Brittany Brown, the kick off weekend was a great success.
“The feedback we received was that this was the best Merry Wells festival and parade to date. A couple from Fort Worth even commented that this was as good as their parade with a sweet, small town feel,” said Brown.
She indicated that more the 3000 people attended the Saturday festival but said counting parade goers is difficult because of the area is spread out.
Merry Wells Parade winners were announced and the overall winner was the Four Sisters Farm who was designed by the Katie & Darren Moore who incorporated a Dr. Seus Whoville theme into their float.
The Beat Dance Factory took home the award for Most Christmas Spirit and Palo Pinto General Hospital won the Merry Wells Award.
The Friday night tree lighting brought more than 500 people to downtown to kick off the season.
“This was the first year to have an organized tree lighting the day before Merry Wells and we had an amazing turn out,”said Brown.
The event included live music from Zak Webb, free hot chocolate and free photos with live reindeer.
Grayson Roach, son of Jacy and Ryan Roach, was the official tree lighter. Jacy and Ryan have dedicated years to starting and organizing the Merry Wells Festival and Lighted parade so they were a perfect and obvious choice to light the tree at our inaugural community tree lighting event.
Upcoming Holiday Activities
- Saturday, December 7th:
- 10 am – 4 pm: Hot Cocoa, Letter’s To Santa and Photo’s with Santa at The Crazy Water Hotel with Visit Mineral Wells Cost: Free
- 10 am – 12 pm: Cookies with The Grinch (brought to you by Mineral Wells Parks and Recreation Department) in Zappe Park (the Gazeebo behind Pasta Fina) Cost: Free
- 6 pm: Opening Night of the Lighted Christmas Tree Maze and FREE showing of Elf in Poston Square ( behind 107 N Oak Ave) brought to you by Downtown Mineral Wells, Mineral Wells Parks and Recreation Department, Visit Mineral Wells and the Mineral Wells Area Chamber of Commerce Cost is FREE
The Tree maze will be over 120 Christmas trees with hidden photo opportunities inside. The maze will be free to the community and open Friday – Sunday 6 pm – 10 pm.
- Thursday, December 12th:
- 4 pm – 8 pm All The Jingle Ladies Sip ‘n Shop
- To find event details and RSVP visit: https://bit.ly/AllTheJingleLadies2024
- Cost: Free
- Saturday, December 14th:
- 9 am – end: Frosty 5K put on by The Outfitters of Palo Pinto County and the Mineral Wells Area Chamber of Commerce
- 10 am – 5 pm: Pick up your letters from Santa if you wrote a letter to Santa on December 7th / Cost is FREE
- 11 am – 4 pm: Gingerbread Village Market, come support local non-profits who will be set up at the Gingerbread Market selling goods or promoting their organizations
- Cost: Free to visit, some organizations will be selling goods or accepting donations
- 6 pm – 10 pm: Lighted Tree Maze open
- Saturday, December 21st:
- 11 am – 4 pm: Gingerbread Bounce House Village Cost is FREE
- 6 pm – 10 pm: Lighted Tree Maze Open (final weekend) Cost is FREE
