Eagle kicks off holiday season with Christmas on Broadway, WassailFest

Eagle will usher in the holiday season this weekend with its traditional Christmas on Broadway nighttime parade on Saturday. This year marks the celebration’s 27th anniversary.

“The community will come together for the parade starting at 5:30 p.m. on Broadway and then follow the parade to Eagle Town Park to see the live nativity, tell Santa their Christmas wishes, warm up by the bonfire while sipping on wassail and enjoy the sounds of the Harris and Lee Band until 8 p.m.,” said Michelle Friedman, of the Eagle Chamber of Commerce, the event organizer.

For kids headed to the festivities, here is a vital piece of information: Youngsters can nab a free bag of candy beginning at 5 p.m. at the Peppermint Station located next to the parade announcer stage downtown. Because of safety concerns, no candy will be distributed along the parade route.

---

---

The Eagle Community United Methodist Women will be selling their famed chicken noodle soup from a stand outside the Eagle Pharmacy to warm up parade watchers. The soup sale will begin at 5 p.m.

As a prelude to Christmas on Broadway, the second-annual WassailFest sponsored by Circle-A Auto Repair and the Dusty Boot Roadhouse begins mid-week.

---

---

Businesses located throughout Eagle will be participating, and an event kickoff is planned at the newly renovated Dusty Boot Roadhouse today, starting at 5:30 p.m. Rally goers will get their first taste of wassail, pick up their 12 Sips of Wassail cards, get a token for a free drink and check out the Dusty Boot remodel. Wassailers will hit the streets Thursday through Saturday to try different wassail recipes at participating business and get their cards punched. Wassailers will turn in their cards at the Dusty Boot Roadhouse by 4 p.m. Saturday to cast their vote for Eagle’s 2016 Wassail Meister. Everyone who completes a 12 Sips card can claim a commemorative mug and a free burger token from Dusty Boot Roadhouse.

For some added fun, there is a Turtle Bus wassail tour planned Friday. The event will begin at 3 p.m. at Bonfire Brewing, and participants are invited to hop aboard the Turtle Bus to be whisked away to sample wassail at participating businesses throughout Eagle. The Turtle Bus will be looping between the different business districts and Bonfire Brewing throughout the evening, with departures about every 15 minutes.

“WassailFest is a fun event that encourages the community to connect with the plethora of small businesses in Eagle. We invite everyone to come out and sample the wassail at their favorite businesses, and discover some new businesses, too,” said Taun Sanders, of Circle-A Auto, the event’s title sponsor. “As the holiday shopping season approaches, we encourage wassailers to take advantage of the WassailFest discounts being offered and to buy local. … It’s all good.”