The Charleston Parks and Recreation Department plans to spread Christmas cheer to families and students on Dec. 1.

Christmas in the Heart of Charleston will have music, refreshments, entertainment and a parade.

Cherri Sims, the past co-chairwoman of the Charleston Christmas Committee, said the Christmas celebration started 15 years ago with Sallie Cougill, the original coordinator.

Sims said the first Christmas in the Heart of Charleston was much smaller than it is today.

Sims said she; Bob Kincade, owner of What’s Cookin’; and seven others wanted to keep the Christmas celebration going for the community.

“It was a purely grassroots community effort,” Sims said.

The Christmas celebration will be from 5 to 7 p.m. with the parade starting at 5 p.m.

The grand marshal for the parade is Sasha Edwards.

Edwards is a local teenager who battled with leukemia in the past. She is in remission and started Sasha’s Softies, an organization that makes blankets to give to children with cancer.

Diana Ratliff, the tourism and special events supervisor, said Edwards makes the blankets herself and donates them to hospitals.

“She makes blankets and donates them back to the children’s hospital cancer wards,” Ratliff said.

Other groups, like First Federal of Coles County and the Christian Campus House, will also be in the parade.

Ratliff said there will be entertainment from the Salvation Army, the Charleston Community Band members and carolers.

“(The Salvation Army) are going to have a brass quartet out on the square playing Christmas carols,” Ratliff said. “We also have several groups walking around who will be caroling.”

The Charleston Community Band members will play from 6:15 to 7 p.m.

The Salvation Army, the Knights of Columbus and the Boy Scouts will pass out different refreshments, like roasted chestnuts throughout the evening.

Many stores on the square will be open during the celebration.

Art Smart will have ornament making in their store, at 720 Jackson Ave., for $5.

Ratliff said Persimmon Lane and the Lincoln Book Shop will also be open during the celebration.

“Lincoln Book Shop will be open that evening and will have Motherlode playing there,” Rafliff said.

Ratliff said the community turnout depends on the weather.

“If we have good weather, we get a bigger crowd,” Ratliff said. “(If) we get bad weather, it’s a little smaller.”

Ratliff said she hopes a lot of people attend this year, because it is a free event to show appreciation to the community.

“It’s more of a family environment, but we welcome the students to come out,” Ratliff said.

Amanda Wilkinson can be reached at 581-2812 or akwilkinson@eiu.edu.