The damp, 30 degree chill couldn’t keep crowds away from the Community Christmas parade in Mount Gilead Friday evening. Families with children and pets lined Main Street from Center to North Street and waited as 48 parade entries of floats, trucks and troops of scouts and businesses passed by.

Some crowd favorites were the Humane Society/Animal Shelter walking their dogs, a lit up Consolidated Electric truck, the Mount Gilead High School Band in Santa Hats and lit-up instruments, State Park with Marilyn Weiler and United Way float with characters brought lots of smiles. Christmas trees on many floats were lit up with lots of kids piled on.

“I don’t remember a parade this long in my entire life in Morrow County,” commented Louann Holmes enthusiastically. Holmes, the Recycling and Litter Coordinator for the Morrow County Health Department, was volunteering with Rita Barton at the Community Center. They were passing out goody bags while Miss Lori and Mrs. Bailey from the Mount Gilead Library helped children make crafts.

Families with children crowded into Howard Hannah’s Real Estate Office on the square to see Santa. There was a free Charlie Brown movie at the Capitol Theatre, and businesses all along Main Street had visitors stop in to shop, warm up and enjoy treats provided by shop owners. There was a live nativity scene, tree lighting, scavenger hunt, and caroling with the Highland High School Singers.

It was the hope of Parade and event Chairman, LeAnne Gompf that the spirit of Christmas would shine through in the lighting of the Christmas tree, the lights in windows and lights of the parade. Gompf was happy to hear comments from the crowd that the parade was the biggest and one of the best ever seen in Morrow County. She heard several people in the crowd say that they looked forward to having an entry in the parade next year.

Gompf listed the following parade winners: Best walking entry was the Mount Gilead High School Marching Band with their Santa Hats and lit instruments; Best Junior Non-commercial entry was given to the K-Kids float; Best Non-commercial Senior entry was Morrow DD and Best Vehicle went to World War II Troop Carrier also known as Deuce and A Half.

Gompf thanked all who entered the parade and participated in activities as well as the Inner Church Council that coordinated the event, Chamber of Commerce Board and many businesses who contributed to the event’s success. She especially thanked the Bob McElroy Century 21 team that supported her and the event.

Photos by LeAnne Gompf.

Alberta Stojkovic is a correspondent with the Morrow County Sentinel and can be reached at [email protected].

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By Alberta Stojkovic

for the Morrow County Sentinel