Festive Mattawa

MATTAWA — The annual Mattawa Christmas parade, organized by the city of Mattawa, rolled through town down Government Road on December 8 before turning toward Wahluke High School, where this year’s Living Nativity Project was being hosted by a group of local churches. 

Joyce Edie, a Mattawa native of 44 years, explained why she joined a group of other Mattawa and Desert Aire residents to come out to the parade.

“Are you kidding me? Look at this. Who wouldn’t come to this parade? Isn't it wonderful? They come from the Yakima Valley to us. We love it. And then of course our locals. We’ve got a ladder truck, I mean come on,” Edie said. “You don't have to come, you just stand here (in town).”

Several local city vehicles, including police and fire, went down the street leading the Yakima Valley trucks, decked out in their own lights and festive decorations. 

Edie spoke about her favorite aspect of the parade.

“The sounds and the lights,” she said. “It's really wonderful, truly, that they come here. It makes for a great parade for us and for kids.”

The trucks are decorated and driven by the Lower Valley Christmas Trucks group, who participate and put on parades all over the Columbia Basin. 

“This is small-town at its best. This is why we live here. It's a great place, great people,” Edie said. “And then we're all going to the school for a live nativity, chocolate and refreshments and everything.”

After the parade, hundreds filtered into the WHS commons to enjoy cookies and refreshments alongside the nativity exhibits and live piano music. 

Secretary for the South Grant County Chamber of Commerce Pam Thorson said the collaboration local churches putting on the living nativity – including the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Catholic, Lutheran, Presbyterian and more – is focused on spreading a positive holiday message for youth after the recent death of a 15-year-old in the Mattawa community due to drug overdose.

Edie, who helped serve food during the nativity event, explained the basics.

“In the library is set up nativity scenes, there's like over a hundred from the people in the area. It's really nice,” she said. “It's just gorgeous. They’re from all over the world…It's so nice that the community shares it with us.”

Othello resident Jose Rincon shared why he and his family traveled to Mattawa for the festivities.

“This is my hometown, Mattawa. I grew up here, so just seeing the community,” Rincon said. “This actually is the first event that I came for hosted here.

Rincon said his favorite part of the event so far was seeing the nativity displays. His family came straight from the parade.

“We got to see it from the main entrance here. It was beautiful,” he said. “That's my first time actually seeing this one here from the lower valley. It's actually really nice.”

Rincon said the event was fun for his children as well.

“They love it. They're just watching, learning,” he said.

After much of the line of people had time to work its way through the WHS library toward the refreshments, the event also hosted a nativity skit on a stage in the center of the cafeteria, followed by Christmas carols.

Gabriel Davis may be reached at gdavis@columbiabasinherald.com. Download the Columbia Basin Herald app on iOS and Android.

    Two vehicles from the Lower Valley Christmas Trucks group turn from Government Road onto Boundary Avenue during the December 8 2023 Mattawa Christmas parade.
  

    Community members enjoy refreshments and each other's company in the Wahluke High School commons for the Living Nativity Project event.
  

    Several nativity displays sit on a table in the Wahluke High School library as community members walk through the tables of exhibits during the Living Nativity Project event.
  

    A classic VW Beetle decked out in Christmas lights, including lights under the car, participates in the annual Christmas parade in Mattawa.
  

    The Living Nativity Project event featured both a nativity skit as well as several tables full of nativity displays, pictured, for the community members to enjoy after the Christmas parade.
  

    Parade vehicles and floats line up in front of Wahluke High School, where the 2023 parade ended and the Living Nativity Project was being held.