Come experience the magic of Merry on Main




Photos with Santa from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. on Main Street by Dowdy’s Real Estate on Saturday, Dec. 4. NOEL WILKERSON HOLMES | PLEASANTON EXPRESS

Photos with Santa from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. on Main Street by Dowdy’s Real Estate on Saturday, Dec. 4. NOEL WILKERSON HOLMES | PLEASANTON EXPRESS

It’s time to get Merry on Main! This two-day annual Christmas festival at the Pleasanton River Park Dec. 3 and downtown Pleasanton Dec. 4 is the place to make magical Christmas memories with your whole family. Merry on Main has grown so much since it began in 2018 that the Pleasanton Express has published an 8-page special section for you to use to make all your plans with for this most wonderful weekend.

This special insert presents you with vendor listing, site maps, parade route, event and entertainment schedules and so much more. Highlights include Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, Christmas Tree River Park Wonderland, Merry on Main’s Got Talent, Little Miss Merry on Main Pageant, Wild Bill Christmas Cowboy Gallop 5K and fun walk, bike parade, live production of The Christmas Story – The Reason for the Season, Ford of Pleasanton Lighted Christmas Parade and the Henson Theatres/ Plestex Firework Show.

New this year is the free Merrier on Main “street dance” on Dec. 4 featuring David Lee Garza Y Los Musicales from 8 p.m. until midnight.

 

 

There is so much free fun for everyone—live music, live Christmas Nativity, carolers, Ballet Folklorico, Ms. Tera’s Tap ‘N Toes dancers, mariachi bands, Kid Zone, face painting, petting zoo, ice slides, trackless train, photos with Santa and the Grinch, games, photo booth and so much more. For those that want to eat and shop, there are more than 100 craft retail vendors and food trucks.

This year, accessibility is key. The City of Pleasanton has worked to make the River Park Wonderland Tree Trail wheelchair and stroller friendly with a new smooth path. There is also additional handicapped parking at the Pleasanton River Park through Dec. 31. On Saturday, the parking lot adjacent to Plestex on the East side has been designated handicapped. This will provide handicapped parking closest to the Saturday daytime events.

Also this year, Merry on Main will be partnering with the Atascosa McMullen Co-op and Peace McMullen Co-op and Peace for the Pieces Social Group to provide JOY Passes to families with special needs children. These passes will allow these children to enjoy the day by helping them advance in line to accommodate their needs. The passes are fashioned after the Morgan’s Wonderland Joy Fast Pass and the same guidelines apply. The JOY Pass allows a guest with special needs and up to three (3) additional guests to utilize designated line entrances for attractions such as the ice slide, petting zoo and VR coaster on Friday night and the ice slide, inflatable obstacle course and trackless train on Saturday. After the guests with special needs access each of these attractions twice, then he or she is invited to ride again as many times as they desire, however, entry will be gained through the regular line.

The JOY Pass allows a guest with special needs and up to three additional guests to utilize designated line entrances for attractions such as the ice slide, petting zoo and VR coaster on Friday night and the ice slide, inflatable obstacle course and trackless train on Saturday.

The JOY Pass allows a guest with special needs and up to three additional guests to utilize designated line entrances for attractions such as the ice slide, petting zoo and VR coaster on Friday night and the ice slide, inflatable obstacle course and trackless train on Saturday.

Merry on Main’s focus is on those with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities. We recognize that diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and mental health conditions such as ADHD are serious health matters, but these chronic conditions do not fall within the JOY Pass spectrum. We hope you bring your friends and family members to this event and spend the most wonderful time of the year with us!

Merry on Main’s mission is to offer a family-friendly event that fosters the spirit of joy and giving during the Christmas season. The Merry on Main committee strives to give Atascosa County a place to spread happiness with each other, share laughter and cheer with the community in a kind and family-friendly atmosphere.

Thank you again to the generous sponsors who have made this Christmas festival for the whole family possible. Please be sure to show your support of these businesses and organizations. Look for the list of gold, silver, red and green sponsors on page 5 and the back cover of the special insert.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *