Our South Christmas 2019

Deer Creek
FESTIVITY
On the banks of Deer Creek, in the late 1930s and
early 1940s, a young lad named Jim Henson explored
the flora and fauna from Leland to Stoneville. He was
sometimes joined by his pal, Kermit Scott. It was the
experiences the boys had along the banks of Deer Creek
that spawned that timeless creation, “Kermit the Frog,”
the original Muppet fashioned by Henson. Today, folks
gather each December along the banks of Deer Creek in
Leland to experience the joy of Christmas, many from the
Rainbow Connection bridge, built in Henson’s honor.
Story by Susan Marquez
Deer Creek is a lengthy tributary of the Yazoo River,
and its soil is said to be the most fertile in all the world.
An agricultural-based Indian culture thrived along the
creek as early as 1200 AD. In later years, the creek
became the centerpiece of the community of Leland,
with beautiful homes built upon its banks. Former Leland
newspaper editor Mac Gordon once observed that
“surely there is no place like Leland at Christmas time,
unless it is Bethlehem itself.”
In 1934, the Jaycees sponsored the stringing of
thirty sets of colored lights across the principal business
streets and the placing of the community Christmas
tree at the corner of Third and Broad Streets. In 1937,
Lelanders included Deer Creek in the annual Christmas
decorations for the first time.
In 1964, Leland’s city leaders had the idea to create
a Christmas event on Deer Creek. Christmas trees
were erected on the creek, and at night they lit up, with
lights reflecting in the creek’s water. Over the years the
display grew to include more trees and floats. “I didn’t
grow up in Leland,” says Mary Anne Brocato, the
director of the Leland Chamber of Commerce, “but I
remember my parents driving to see the Christmas display
at night. It was a magical sight that I never forgot.”
Bracato taught school for 36 years before transitioning
into a second career as the Chamber’s director. “I’m at
the end of my first year,” she says. “Last year was my
first year to be actively involved with the celebration,
and I learned a lot.”
One thing she learned is that things were done the
way they’d been done for several years. “It was good,
but I knew it could be better.” Bracato also noticed that
there wasn’t a lot of traffic around the creek last year.
“I remember a time when there were lines of cars every
night, but last year, the traffic just wasn’t there.” She attributes
that to the spectacular light show in Cleveland.
“They have grown their light show for the past several
years, and it is very impressive. But I still think our
creek is so pretty lit up at night.”
The Christmas at Deer Creek event begins on
November 30. “That’s our big kick-off event,” says
Bracato. “We typically have the same 25 communitysponsored
lighted floats each year, but this year we are
introducing at least three, and possibly five, new floats.
We also had new trees built and we are trying to install
19 new trees in the water. Between the high water and
the alligators coming in, we’ve had a bit of a challenge,
but we are determined!”
24 … OUR SOUTH
ALL THINGS SOUTHERN … 25