Waukesha Remains Resilient Following Christmas Parade Tragedy

Sounds of joy and laughter filled the streets of downtown Waukesha, but amidst the celebration trickled in feelings of sadness and remembrance.

December 4, 2021 marked Waukesha’s 118^th annual Holiday Art Crawl. Parked outside of Martha Merrell’s Bookstore was a horse-drawn carriage followed by families eager to hop in for a ride. Inside the bookstore sat one of its owners, Norman Bruce, recollecting the events of the Christmas Parade tragedy nearly a month before.

Over 200 people took shelter in his bookstore that day, including a young boy who was hit by the vehicle. About a week later, the boy’s mother came into the store to thank him.

“Today the whole family came in,” said Bruce.

Waukesha’s Downtown Business Association has spent years building its strong downtown community. This is done through annual art crawls, Friday Night Lights where thousands gather for live music, the Waukesha Farmers Market, horse drawn carriage rides, letters from Santa, and other events. Waukesha even holds the Guinness World Record as the Caroling Capitol of the World with 1,822 carolers.

“We’ve had many different things that are drawing people into the community, and I think that also had some real impact on the events of the Christmas Parade,” said Bruce, “because out of all the things that I was able to witness that day, even though there were people hurt in the street, and a lot of them, you didn’t see anyone laying by themselves.”

One hundred seventy-five local artisans participated in this year’s art crawl and a portion of sales will be donated to the United for Waukesha Community Fund.

“I’m giving my entire profits for the day, 25% of sales to the parade victims,” said Joan Skimmons, owner of River’s End Gallery, “because that is a part of me giving joy and giving back to my community.”

Storefronts painted with Waukesha Strong signs and vendors selling merchandise, continue to support the logo that has defined the community’s resilience.

“It’s sad that it’s under bad circumstances but it’s nice that everybody is pulling together and showing support to the families,” said Jessica Zibell, a participating vendor out of Burlap and Lace.

Less than 48 hours after the Christmas Parade, over $1 million had been donated to the Waukesha Community Fund including donations from all 50 states.

“It wasn’t very long till the fund was to the first million,” said Bruce.

The community fund has now exceeded over $4.5 million including donations from 16 countries.

The Waukesha Community Fund Committee plans to give each family with a deceased loved one an initial check for $25,000, and will continue to disperse money to those affected.

“What has happened has been a tragedy, but it’s the sense of hope and looking to come back from this that people are rallying around,” said Bruce. “That is very symbolic of the unity and strength that this will continue to be a place people will gravitate towards.”