Another member of the Caldwell family left the Jonesburg Community Building with a bike on Dec. 5.

Emily Caldwell became the third Caldwell family member in as many years to win a bike during the bike giveaway. The 13-year-old was one of 152 children who were awarded a bike.

“I’m excited to have the new bike,” Emily said. 

The bike giveaway was part of the Jonesburg Lighted Christmas Parade event, which ended about four hours before. The parade, which wrapped up 15th year, started at 6 p.m. at the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church parking lot.

After the parade, many children got their picture taken with Santa Claus at a trailer near the community building. Children also checked out a petting zoo. 

Free food items such as chili, hot dogs, nachos and popcorn were given away at the community building. Sacred Groundz Coffee, which recently had a new owner in Jonesburg resident Kelsey Koch, offered free hot chocolate. Joe’s Funnel Cakes, which celebrated its 40th anniversary this year, served free funnel cakes.

Also, 101 gift cards were given away.

The bike giveaway is a very popular event at the Jonesburg parade. After the parade is over, many children fill up the community building hoping they would walk out of Jonesburg with a bike just three weeks before Christmas. All of the bikes were donated.

Justin Caldwell, Emily’s father, said the bike giveaway is something his family looks forward to at the Jonesburg parade. The Caldwells attended the parade for the 15th year.

“It’s great that they do this,” said Justin Caldwell, Emily’s father.

Emily joined her sisters Aubrey and Kennedy in a group of Caldwell family members that won bikes. But it wasn’t the first time Emily was awarded a bike. She won a bike six years ago.

“She’s been waiting for a big bike,” Justin Caldwell said. “She was embarrassed when her name got called.”

The parade was held under chilly conditions. It traveled south on First Street, then to East Lions Street, Jones Street, Main Street and Gladstone Avenue.

Many local businesses such as High Hill Christian Church, Jonesburg State Bank, Peoples Savings Bank and Schwartz Bus Service entered floats. 

The Montgomery County High School band participated in the parade for the first time. Twenty members of the band were in attendance. 

“I didn’t know there was a parade until somebody told me about it,” band director Lauren Seifried said. “I couldn’t do it last year because of my (kidney) illness, but we decided to try it this year. They’re excited to be here and I think it was important for the community to see them.”

Also, four members of the Montgomery County R-II lunch staff teamed up to wear food costumes with lights on them.

“This is our first year doing the parade,” said Haley Pipkins, R-II’s director of nutritional services. “It took me quite a few hours to glue in all of the LEDs to the costumes.”

The committee members of the Jonesburg Christmas Parade include the Sellenriek family of Bob, Steve, Heath, Dixie, Roxanne, Joy and Joe Oden and Stacy Calbreath.