Leland, a small Mississippi Delta town of about 4,000 people, celebrates Christmas by launching floats donated by people and organizations from the community to be displayed along Deer Creek, a creek that runs through the town.
This year marks 50 years “Christmas on the Creek” has been displayed, floating by for onlookers to enjoy. Deer Creek is a man-made creek that winds through the Mississippi Delta in Washington, Sharkey, Issaquenna and Warren counties. Leland, in Washington County, lights up a two mile portion of the creek the first Friday in December. Crowds gather as Santa Claus rides down the creek in his boat and the floats are launched.
The floats include scenes of the Nativity, a guitar representing the Mississippi Blues Trail, a fire truck, angels, a snowman, a church and Kermit the frog to name a few. Kermit the frog is a very popular float that is located closest to Highway 82 where Deer Creek runs behind the Jim Henson Museum, birthplace of Kermit the Frog.
If you are traveling through the Mississippi Delta for the holidays, be sure to check out “Christmas on the Creek.”
Emily Newton is a staff reporter for HottyToddy.com and can be reached at emily.newton@hottytoddy.com.
Leland, Miss. Celebrates 50th Christmas on the Creek
