WELDON CHRISTMAS PARADE BRIGHTENS THE NIGHT
WELDON CHRISTMAS PARADE BRIGHTENS THE NIGHT
Cold weather didn’t stop the bands from playing, the decorated cars and trucks from cruising, the National Honor Society and Weldon In Action volunteers from carrying their banners and passing out candy to children lining the streets.
At 5:00 p.m., parade entrants came with their decorated vehicles displaying bright, creative designs, responding to the call from Councilwoman Doris Garner, the creator, organizer, and General in Command of the event. A cordial but determined leader, she emphasized safety rules to each and every one and instructed folks to stay in the middle of the street to avoid spectators and keep from stepping on children running for candy tossed to them.
Her trusted assistant, Councilwoman Jennifer Cox, with a big smile and gentle manners, whipped the cars, trucks, bands, and marching organizations into a seamless line ready to head down First Street, into Washington Avenue and ending at the Elementary School.
Departing right on time, led by Chief Davis and Sheriff Davis in their shinny blue SUVs, flashing lights alerting the dark neighborhood, the caravan left the parking lot, ready to cross the railroad tracks on First Street when an unusual image appeared. Not reindeer, nor Santa, nor fairies—but a CXS train lumbering through the town, making a loop at the library and passing in front of us not a block away. No one could remember seeing a train on that track at that time of day. The engineer must have heard about our Christmas parade and decided to join the party.
Following the police cars, the Grand Marshal's car, followed by the mayor's elaborately dressed Cadillac—red bows and lights-- rolled down First Street and Washington Avenue waving Merry Christmas to spectators lining the streets and handing candy canes to the little ones. The Weldon High School’s band announced the parade with drums and horns signaling the new Christmas season. Atop one car sat a beauty queen, costumed in fur and jewels, while the Red Wagon lighted the area with a float containing a tall ballooned green tree with gifts around it. Not far behind was a decorated trailer with young Santas calling out Merry Christmas and sharing a candy cane or two.
Trucks fully covered with lighted Christmas lights (how did they do it????) drove cautiously down the avenue. ATVs weaved in front of each other and spun down the avenue in semi-circles. Underground Railroad Commission members, decked out in a decorated white sedan, ambled along the avenue, calling to bystanders. Weldon In Action and National Honor Society volunteers carried their banners and handed out souvenirs. The band in green uniforms with clean, white spats and taps on their shoes, set the style and rhythm for the caravan.
Where was Santa? All eyes viewed with anticipation every passing vehicle. Finally, at the end of the long line the huge yellow fire truck with its red light and ladder topping it off lumbered down the street. Small eyes widened; heads looked upward to the dark sky. There sat Santa—on top of the world—waving to every eager face turned toward the sky and shouting Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night!