Story by DENISE BELL
submitted by SUSAN SEABOLT

Thanksgiving has passed, the weather has turned cold and the Hometown Christmas Bunny Banner has appeared on the side of the Hawthorne Building in downtown Forney as the official public invitation to attend Forney’s traditional Christmas festival.

The annual all-day Christmas festival will again be held on Main Street in historic downtown Forney on Saturday, December 5th and organizers are expecting thousands of area citizens to enjoy to “free to all” community event.

Opening the festivities will be the FHTC Christmas Parade which will start at the FISD Administration Building on South Bois D’Arc promptly at 9:00 a.m. and proceed north to the intersection of Bois D’Arc and Main Streets.

Festival patrons are invited to gather along South Bois D’Arc to watch the parade and the arrival of Santa Claus to the Main Stage in front of Forney City Hall, where he will be presented with the Key to the City.

Free pictures with Santa will be available for the children attending FHTC 2009 in the gardens next to the Sub-Courthouse throughout the day and parade participants with questions should immediately contact Skip Weatherford at skip2008@live.com

Opening Ceremonies for the festival will be conducted on the Main Street Stage located directly in front of City Hall and festival organizers are thrilled to announce a special addition to the Opening Ceremonies line up.

FISD Superintendent Dr. Darrell Brown has graciously agree to perform the National Anthem, and possessing an absolutely beautiful voice, the citizens, students and teachers of Forney should not miss this special performance.  

Also part of FHTC 2009 Opening Ceremonies is the 3rd Annual Christmas Pie Eating Competition in which one fast-eating Forney pie eater wins a brand new 42-inch, flat-screen color television.

New this year, the First Annual FHTC Junior Pie Eating Competition will be available to Forney youths from 12 to 18 years old on the Children’s Stage at 1:45 p. m., and these young pie eating enthusiasts will compete to win a brand new Wii gaming system.

Pie contestants are still being sought to compete in both contests and anyone interested should immediately register at forneyhometownchristmas.com as competitor seats in both contest are limited.

Wishing to both entertain and educate the children of the community, several new shows and been booked for Forney’s Hometown Christmas 2009.

Opening the Children’s Stage at 12:45 p. m. will be a fun-filled talented dog show preformed by Star Dog Entertainment which will immediately be followed by the interactive Christmas clown act of “Jolly and Leon the Elves.”

*See entire story in the December 3, 2009 issue of the Forney Messenger.