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LaFayette locals braved the cold for Christmas on the square and the parade on Saturday night. The festivities started earlier in the day with the second annual cookie crawl, brought back after the success of the previous year. 

From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. CT, kids got to run around to the businesses on the square and collect sweet treats as a part of the cookie crawl. The participants who hit all of the stops and got a stamp were entered into a raffle to win $100. This year’s winner was Bo Edge. 

According to DeAnna Hand, LaFayette Main Street Executive Director, there were around 60 kids that participated in the crawl and 15 businesses. For many businesses, the event is one of their most successful days of the year. New business, Alison’s on the Square, reported a record-breaking day on Saturday, according to the business’s Facebook page. 

“I think it definitely did a great job bringing people in and letting them see what downtown Lafayette has to offer,” Hand said. 

After the morning excitement, the streets began to fill up for the Christmas on the Square event. Food trucks and vendors were present. The parade is planned by the city’s LaFayette Christmas Committee. 

At 6 p.m. ET, people began lining the downtown square. Floats and cars began and ended at LaFayette High School, doing a loop around the courthouse and passing by the library before heading back to LHS. 

This year’s grand marshall, Luis Maroquin, was first in line, waving to the crowd out the window of a classic car. Multiple local high schools participated, with both LaFayette and Loachapoka marching bands performing. Chambers Academy and the other schools were represented by Cheerleading squads and dance teams. 

Fire departments brought the red trucks, including Cusseta, East Chambers and LaFayette. Santa rode atop the LFD truck and greeted the kids. Local businesses also rode in the parade and threw out candy for those watching. 

Awards were given out to some of the parade entries. Most Festive Award went to New Mounty Sellers Missionary Baptist Church, the Christmas Car Award was given to Sawyer Sanders and friends and the Holiday Spirit Award went to Loachapoka’s marching band.