CORYDON, Ind. — Janelle Amy, executive director of the non-profit Main Street Corydon, oversees holiday festivities in Corydon, Indiana.
"We like to say that we're almost like a little Hallmark town," she said.
She's hoping a Hallmark ending will bring a Christmas miracle to their town so all the effort and holiday spirit culminate in a picture-perfect celebration for "Light Up Corydon". There's was just one problem—the chair on Santa's sleigh was missing.
"Santa gets to sit on there and kids get to ride with him on the parade float," Amy said. "Unfortunately, it's gone missing."
When organizers came to the Corydon Street Department Monday morning, the suede seat was gone. But it was returned "safe and sound" Friday night.
Across the street, Diana Lasley was one of the last to see the chair.
Lasley was at her daughter's shop, God's Earthly Creations, when she noticed it was gone.
"My daughter and I was both leaving the shop," she said. "I noticed when I backed out, I looked down and there was a town truck pulling up at the garage down there. And I seen a red chair."
Red and gold, a throne meant for the jolly Saint Nick, swiped some time Sunday.
"Within the hour of 12:53 p.m. and 1:53 p.m.," Amy said, referencing doorbell camera video captured near the city garage. "That's where it went missing."
Even with a piece of the parade gone, Amy's heart is still whole.
As a child, she was one of hundreds enchanted by the thousands of lights glowing in the town square.
"It takes a lot of time and energy in making Light Up happen," she said. "But it's all worth it whenever you know that you're making memories in someone's life."
As for the culprit, only father Christmas can say whether they're naughty or nice.
"I have talked to Santa himself," Amy said. "And I think he's really, really thinking it over."
While he considers their fate, Amy believes miracles really do exist, adding that "Christmas will go on."
The Light Up Corydon celebration takes place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 25.
The parade begins shortly after 5:30 p.m.
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