DUNCAN — Santa’s sleigh has been hijacked, but no worries as a secret-elf says it will be returned in time for “Santa’s Hot Rod Garage” Christmas parade Saturday down Duncan’s Main Street.

“It is my understanding that it has been hijacked, sanded and is being totally repainted for the parade,” said Tammy Johnson, director of Main Street Duncan.

The sleigh is being held in an undisclosed location as it undergoes transformation.

This is the 23rd consecutive year for the Main Street program to host the parade and many surprises should make it quite the big event, she said. The parade begins at 3 p.m. and could last two hours.

Santa also has a special treat for about 1,000 lucky children who attend the parade. As he rides on top of his float on his customized sleigh, he will toss out some special toys to the children that have been donated by a Main Street merchant.

“That’s just going to be so cool. They aren’t expecting to leave the parade with toys,” Johnson said.

Johnson encourages everyone to come early to visit Main Street, browse the stores and show support for the AMBUCS group, which will be selling hot chocolate and baked goods.

“We want everybody to have a family fun-filled day,” she said.

Other parade surprises include new entries. Johnson is extremely happy to announce that “after three years of begging” the Chickasaw Nation Indian Dancers will be participating.

“As long as it isn’t below 32 degrees,” Johnson said. The Fort Sill Color Guard will return.

“Any Armed Forces are difficult to get. We were very fortunate to have them last year and then to have them again this year. There is a one-year waiting period.”

Other parade entries include the India Shriners Okie Dokies, C.L. Woody’s miniature horse and buggy, and Poor Boy Tractor Club from Fletcher. Last year’s parade registered 103 total entries, but as of Tuesday, there were already 119 registrations, she said.

A major change will make the parade contest more fair, she said. In the past, civic groups competed against corporations or businesses that could afford to do more with their float entries.

“It would not be fair to the Boy Scouts or Girl Scout groups to put them in the same category as a corporation,” she said.

Entries will be judged for Best Themed. First, second and third place prizes will be awarded in four divisions — Civic organizations, Antique Cars, Special Interest and Business. A first and second place prize will be awarded in the Riding Club category. The special interest division is new for entries that didn’t fit in any of the other categories. Wayne Watts will be the announcer.

Surprises planned aren’t just for children. Johnson said this is definitely a year for adults to stick around after the parade is over. Only those 18 and older can participate and children can not be in the street of the 800 block of Main Street when the Gingerbread Dough toss takes place immediately after the parade.

There will be $8,000 in cash and gift certificates that will be given away in the ping pong ball toss. This is the third year for this event, but the donations by local merchants and Main Street members have been extremely generous. In the giveaway, there will be $2,000 in cash, all in $2 bills. Some of the balls will have several of those in them and adults can only get one ball each.

“When people see those $2 bills, they’ll know that Main Street Duncan is reinvesting in the community,” she said. “We encourage people to spend those in the community.”

Johnson said the holidays are a time for giving and she didn’t want the day to be a fundraiser.

“I wanted to give people something for the holidays. The people out there catching the ping pong balls are going to need what they get.”

Donated gift certificates cover everything from hair salon appointments, photography sessions donated by local photographers, oil changes for vehicles, to dinners at local restaurants.

There’s also gift certificates being donated by vendors who have booths in many of the Main Street businesses, she said.

“The gift certificates are also a marketing tool for those businesses that gave those away. Like the free oil changes, when someone uses their gift certificate, then those businesses have an opportunity to make a customer that will come back,” Johnson said.

Johnson is also excited to receive volunteer help from the AMBUCS group for registration of entries, and from nine reserve officers and deputies with the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office.

“They are giving of their time on their days to volunteer,” she said.



— Toni Hopper is a reporter for The Duncan Banner. She can be reached at 580-255-5354, Ext. 132 or by e-mail at: toni.hopper@duncanbanner.com.