Gentry Christmas parade held Saturday night

Westside Eagle Observer/RANDY MOLL A neighborhood group, Friends and Neighbors from S. Little Avenue, entered a float in the Gentry Christmas parade on Saturday.
Westside Eagle Observer/RANDY MOLL A neighborhood group, Friends and Neighbors from S. Little Avenue, entered a float in the Gentry Christmas parade on Saturday.

GENTRY -- With near perfect weather for a Christmas parade, Gentry's annual event brought out crowds of people on Saturday night to line Main Street and watch the band, floats and decorated vehicles go by.

"O Christmas Tree" was the theme for this year's parade, and the floats certainly conveyed that theme with decorated trees on most and an entire mobile Christmas tree lot on one of the floats.

In addition to the floats and vehicles, there were decorated tricycles, a horse and buggy and numerous equestrian entries in the parade. A neighborhood group from S. Little Avenue, led by David and Beth Calkins, purchased and passed out more than 800 stuffed bears to the children along the parade route. Leftover bears are donated to the State Police to give to children in stressful times.

Gentry High School band provided music as it marched west down Main, and Mayor Kevin Johnston and his wife, Lori, greeted parade goers.

And, of course, bringing up the rear of the parade and riding in the bucket of Engine 32 was Santa Claus, ringing a bell and greeting visitors along the parade route. He also spent the afternoon at the Gentry Chamber office, visiting with children, hearing their Christmas wishes and passing out special goodies.

Winners in the float categories this year included: Best Overall -- Victory Baptist Church of Gentry; Best Lights -- First Baptist Church of Gentry; Best Music -- McDonald's Restaurant of Gentry; and Best use of theme -- Gentry FFA.

More Parade Photos

General News on 12/13/2017