The Joplin Christmas parade returns next month, in-person after being canceled last year. On Thursday, the Grand Marshals were announced. KRPS’s Fred Fletcher-Fierro has more.

Earlier this month Freeman President and CEO Paula Baker and Joplin Mayor Ryan Stanley unveiled the theme of this year’s Joplin Christmas parade, Crusin’ To Christmas. On yesterday Freeman announced that seven-year-old twins Issac and Easton Howard will be the parades Grand Marshals. The two were recently named National Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® Champions.

Freeman is one of 125 CMN Hospitals in the US. and the twins have been helped by CMN with equipment, nutritional needs, travel expenses, and two service dogs since 2014 when they were just five days old. There is still time to enter the parade if you’re interested, Email joplinchristmasparade@freemanhealth.com or call 417-347-4624. The Joplin Christmas Parade will be held Tuesday, December 7 starting at 6 pm. For 89 9 KRPS, I’m Fred Fletcher-Fierro