Mary Beth Babcock, the Tulsa business owner responsible for “Land of the Giants” figures that loom large over Tulsa’s segment of Route 66, was dealt a giant surprise Thursday: She was asked to serve as grand marshal of the 2026 Reasor’s Tulsa Christmas Parade.
The invite was kept secret from Babcock until it was delivered courtesy of a ceremonial mini-parade that concluded with a stop at Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios on 66, where she was working inside.
The parade included a towering Buck Atom imitator (Inspyral Circus’ Benjamin Kirsch) on stilts and a high school marching band from Bartlesville, where Babcock has roots.
A banner at the front of the parade was branded with the invitation and, when Tulsa Christmas Parade board member Amanda Curtis followed with a spoken invite, Babcock said, “Are you kidding me?”
Paul Ross is the CEO of American Waste Control, which is presenting the Reasor’s Tulsa Christmas Parade. At the end of the mini-parade, Ross spoke to the crowd at Buck Atom’s about how 2026 is a giant year. Route 66 and the Tulsa Christmas Parade are turning 100.
“I can’t think of a better way to honor it and recognize it than by have the giant herself, Mary Beth Babcock, of the Land of the Giants, as our grand marshal for the 2026 Tulsa Christmas Parade,” Ross said.
A news release said the mini-parade marks the official kickoff of the Tulsa Christmas Parade’s centennial year “paired with a playful visual concept inspired by Mary Beth’s iconic Land of the Giants — a celebration of a giant year, giant memories, and yes … giant floats coming to downtown Tulsa this December.”
Babcock, asked what the invitation means to her, said: “When you’re a small business owner, there’s a lot of blood, sweat and tears put into what you do, and sometimes you feel like you almost want to give up, but you really don’t. And then this happens. … It’s a beautiful thing. It means more than a lot of people will ever, ever know. It means a lot.”
According to the news release, the Tulsa Christmas Parade is focusing on a citywide initiative encouraging people to shop local, spotlighting small businesses that give Tulsa its character, creativity and charm.
Friends and representatives from the media were on site because they received advance notice about what would transpire, but they were asked not to spoil the surprise.
“Obviously, I didn’t know what was going on,” Babcock said. “I was like, ‘There’s something coming. There’s, like, a parade or something.’ And then I see this sign that says, ‘Be our grand marshal’ with my name on it. Right this moment, it still doesn’t seem real, but I am so honored.”
Accomplices who were “in” on the secret were inside Buck Atom’s prior to the parade’s arrival. At the right moment, friend Holly Standlee urged her to walk out the door because she needed to see what was happening.
Said Babcock: “And I was like, ‘No, I’ve got to ring this customer up. Like, there’s a customer in there buying something.’ And they were like, ‘No, come on!’ I was like, ‘But we’re losing a sale!’”
The news release summarized why Babcock was chosen as grand marshal:
As the founder of beloved Tulsa landmarks including Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios, Meadow Gold Mack and Buck’s Vintage, Babcock has spent years championing Route 66, local artists, small retailers and Tulsa pride. Her work embodies the spirit of shopping local, making her the perfect face for this milestone year.
Full Article: https://tulsaworld.com/life-entertainment/local/events/article_40a6c31f-aa63-41d5-8d74-0044ec0fc89f.html