After a procession of emergency medical services vehicles, Thomas will lead the Joplin Christmas Parade, followed by nearly 100 parade entrants. The theme of this year’s parade is “Santa’s Workshop.” Entrants are encouraged to use their creativity to fly to the North Pole and decorate accordingly.
The parade route starts at 15th and Main streets and runs north to Third Street. Funds generated by the 2018 Joplin Christmas Parade will go to the Children’s Miracle Network Hospital, which provides assistance to children from birth to 21 years of age in a 14-county area in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma.
About Freeman Health System
Locally owned, not-for-profit and nationally recognized, Freeman Health System includes Freeman Hospital West, Freeman Hospital East, Freeman Neosho Hospital and Ozark Center – the area’s largest provider of behavioral health services – as well as two urgent care clinics, dozens of physician clinics and a variety of specialty services. For 2019, Freeman earned dozens of individual awards for medical excellence and patient safety from CareChex®, a quality rating system that helps consumers evaluate healthcare providers. The Leapfrog Group awarded Freeman the highest grade possible in the Fall 2018 Hospital Patient Safety Score. With more than 300 physicians on staff representing more than 70 specialties, Freeman provides cancer care, heart care, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopaedics, children’s services and women’s services. Additionally, Freeman is the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in a 70-mile radius. For more information, visit freemanhealth.com.