Pierce City welcomes Santa Claus at annual Christmas parade

The Grand Marshal of this year's annual Christmas Parade in Pierce City were members of the 203rd Engineering Battalion (Heavy), Missouri Army National Guard. The returned soldiers were honored for their service. Melonie Roberts/reporter@monett-times.com (Photos by Melonie Roberts)

Pierce City High School Marching Band took first-place honors in the band category in Saturday's annual Christmas Parade in Pierce City. (Photos by Melonie Roberts)

Barry Lawrence Regional Library's float featured Frosty the Snowman reading a Christmas story. (Photos by Melonie Roberts)

Dr. Mel Hodde showed his Christmas spirit by pushing a decorated wheelchair in the Pierce City Christmas Parade last Saturday. Office workers also distributed candy to youngsters lining the parade route. (Photos by Melonie Roberts)

Students from St. Mary's Catholic School in Pierce City worked hard on their float for the city's annual Christmas Parade, a tribute to The Polar Express. (Photos by Melonie Roberts)

Members of the First Baptist Church won the hearts of many spectators during Saturday's parade. Children, dressed as animals and wisemen, bore witness to the miracle of Mary and Joseph with the newborn Christ child. (Photos by Melonie Roberts)

No mealy-mouthed, small-hearted Grinch will steal Christmas this year. Members of the Decatur Lodge #400 successfully snagged the evil Grinch and put him in jail, parading him through the streets of Pierce City during its annual Christmas Parade. (Photos by Melonie Roberts)

The Barry County Shrine Club had its restored fire engine on display at this year's Pierce City Christmas Parade last Saturday afternoon. The colorful entry was popular with youngsters along the parade route as Shriners, walking behind the fire truck, distributed handfuls of candy. (Photos by Melonie Roberts)

The Joplin Shrine Club took Santa's Choice in its division with this Pirate Ship entry. Other winners included: Kenneth Gauthier, '48 Chevy Fleetwood, People's Choice; and Steven Jackson, 1925 truck, Mayor's Choice. (Photos by Melonie Roberts)

The Joplin (Shrine) Oriental Band provided lots of color and music for spectators along the parade route during Pierce City's annual parade last Saturday. (Photos by Melonie Roberts)

Celebrating 60 years of cheers, the Pierce City High School Cheer Squad distributed lots of smiles and candy to spectators along the parade route Saturday. (Photos by Melonie Roberts)

This entry from Thomlinson Pump took Santa's Choice in the Pierce City Christmas Parade Saturday. The other winner in the tractor division was Jesse Mason on a John Deere mower, pulling a trailer. (Photos by Melonie Roberts)

Although Tucker Hagebusch did not seem thrilled with the noise and crowds during the annual Christmas Parade in Pierce City, his outfit and colorfully costumed-mount earned him the honor of Santa's Choice in the equine division. People's Choice winner was Mika Wilken, and Mayor's Choice winner was Ronnie Myers. (Photos by Melonie Roberts)

Rounding out the annual Pierce City Christmas Parade was Jolly Old St. Nick himself, aboard the Pierce City Volunteer Fire Department truck. Santa and Mrs. Claus, along with the help of a couple of elves, greeted spectators with warm waves and calls of "Merry Christmas!" (Photos by Melonie Roberts)