Christmas in Cabot

THREE RIVERS AREA — Three years ago, beauty shop banter led to an extravagant Christmas display in the heart of Cabot.

Peggy Barker said she took her mother into Ann’s Beauty Shop, and the women in the salon began discussing how unattractive Cabot City Hall is. Tossing around ideas, the women decided to do something to make it more beautiful.

Barker, who is a floral designer, and beauty shop owner Ann Gilliam called in their friend Nancy Cohea to help them make Cabot festive for Christmas. With a budget of about $1,000, the women went to town,literally, and decorated the courtyard at City Hall with lights, trees and wreaths.

Holding up a chandelier she made with a hula hoop base, Barker said that it will hang in the foyer of the chamber Donnie Sewell 11/9/11 if it is the chamber, we need to spell it out completely he first time, Cabot Chamber of Commerce and drop it to chamber later in the story this year.

“I made 500 cookies,” Cohea said about the first year the women decorated.

She also said they hope to have 500 or more people attend the lighting ceremony this year.

Now, the decorating committee is working with a budget of $5,000, which comes from the A&P Commission. Decorating will begin the day after Thanksgiving, and the lighting ceremony will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 2. Each year, new things are added. This year, there will be hot dogs, cotton candy and a carousel for the children to ride, and everything is free. The children can ride the carousel as many times as they want to stand in line. There will also be a hay ride, and Santa will be driving the tractor.

Since that first year, the community has become more involved. The art classes at all nine of Cabot’s elementary schools decorate a tree. This year, the trees will be in the “Winter Wonderland” in the hall leading up to the Cabot Chamber of Commerce. The most uniquely decorated tree will win the tree decorating competition.

“It’s our thing; I love Christmas,” Cohea said. “The Fire Department puts up our lights for us, and they’ll be cooking the hot dogs.”

Mayor Bill Cypert seemed amused when the women explained that he will have a decorated Christmas tree and a 63-inch Santa standing by his office window, which will be visible from the courtyard.

“The meaning of Christmas is to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ,” Cypert said. “It is healthy for our community to come together in the Christmas spirit. And these girls do a good job.”

Along with other volunteers, the women have been planning and working on the Christmas in Cabot project since July.

“We just wanted the community to come together, and they did,” Cohea said.

Cabot merchants are donating cookies and candy. There will also be coffee, hot chocolate and Christmas punch, and of course, caroling.

“It’s a thing of love, and we work hard, and it’s stressful, but that night, we can smile,” Barker said.

The decorations will remain up until after the holidays.

Staff writer Jeanni Brosius can be reached at (501) 244-4307 or jbrosius@arkansasonline.com.