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Residents hope to keep up holiday tradition

A Church Street Christmas founder says community interest has dwindled, but it appears not .

By GINA PACE
Published October 19, 2006

DADE CITY - Upset that a tradition might die, residents have banded together to try and save Church Street Christmas.

But one of the founders of Church Street Christmas, Luther Goodwin, said the event has officially ended and the homeowners are going to have to think of a new name for the festivities. The three churches that sponsor the event - First United Methodist, First Baptist and First Presbyterian - announced last week they would not sponsor it this December.

Goodwin said support from churches had declined in recent years, finding volunteers grew difficult, and homeowners were concerned with crowds on their property.

Well, apparently not all homeowners.

Curtis Beebe says the majority of residents on Church Avenue from 12th to 17th streets now plan to decorate their homes and set out luminaries lining the streets.

"We hate for the tradition to end," Beebe said.

Since 1978, for three nights in late December, Dade City has celebrated the holiday with an old-fashioned small-town gathering with choirs, carols, cookies and twinkling lights.

This year's revived event will take place Dec. 21-23 and is in the planning stages.

City Manager Harold Sample said the city will provide services, such as barricades and street cleaning, if homeowners pull together a viable event.

Musical entertainment has traditionally been provided by the churches. But minister of worship Richard Wade said Wednesday that First Baptist's Christmas music program has been scheduled to occur the week before this year's revived event. First Presbyterian's program will also fall a week earlier. It was not clear Wednesday when First United Methodist would hold its annual program, but Goodwin said all churches had agreed not to take part.

Michael Carr, who has lived on Church Avenue for 16 years, thinks there will still be enough to keep crowds happy, even if the churches don't participate. He said individual homes often host parties. Also, he plans to have his church's choir perform at his house, along with a tae kwon do demonstration and a live Santa greeting children in his carport.

"I think it's something that's genuine and wholesome and a tradition," Carr said. "Hopefully the churches will choose to participate."

[Last modified October 18, 2006, 21:40:41]