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Christmas celebration comes to end

Gradually decreasing participation in Church Street Christmas forces the demise of the event.

By MOLLY MOORHEAD
Published October 11, 2006

DADE CITY - It was a holiday tradition since 1978.

For three nights every December, Dade City ushered in the holiday spirit with Church Street Christmas, an old-fashioned small-town gathering showcasing choirs, carols, cookies, twinkle lights and community togetherness.

This year marks the end of an era.

The committee of organizers from the avenue's three churches - First United Methodist, First Baptist and First Presbyterian - announced there will be no event in December.

"The declining support from each one of the churches has been noticeable in the past few years," said Richard Wade, minister of worship at First Baptist.

The event was volunteer-driven, Wade said. And finding people to do the work became more and more difficult. Even attendance had waned, whereas in years past, 50,000 people filled up the brick road.

Luther Goodwin, who helped found the event 28 years ago, said the time was right to end it.

"We've had so many great years with thousands and thousands of people," said Goodwin. "We have reached much further than we ever expected."

Still, the announcement was met with sadness.

Harriet Riddaugh grew up on Church Avenue and lives there now with her husband and two children. She attended just about every Church Street Christmas since the beginning.

"It's such a great way for the residents of Dade City to celebrate Christmas and see each other," she said. "Everybody kind of comes back for it."

But the holidays won't go unmarked in Dade City. Trim the Town, when the public is invited to help decorate downtown, is scheduled for Nov. 19. The Magical Night Christmas Parade is Dec. 1, followed on Dec. 9 by the Christmas Stroll, a downtown celebration with music, carolers and carriage rides.

Amy Ellis, executive director of the Main Street organization, said that with the yule event ending, her group might consider holding more nighttime holiday celebrations. But she hopes the event might return.

Phyllis Smith, executive director of the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, said Church Street Christmas fit a special niche.

"The chamber always promotes that we have both the commercial side of Christmas with the Stroll and the religious side of Christmas with Church Street."

It is, she said, "a very big loss."

[Last modified October 10, 2006, 22:56:01]