Christmas Parade: Bigger, Better Than Ever
By Shannon McFarlin WENK/WTPR News Director
Paris, Tenn.—The 11th annual Holly Jolly Electric Christmas Parade was an unqualified success, with hundreds of people gathered downtown and over 40 entries—the largest parade yet.
In addition to Santa, Mrs. Claus, Rudolph and the gang, the parade featured the Henry County High School Marching Patriots playing Christmas carols, the Paris Danger Soccer team performing, the Sandra and Kelly’s Dance Studio dancing, the Henry County along with Clifford the Big Red Dog as the Grand Marshal. Dale O’Daniel, who recently retired from the city of Paris, was the 2017 DPA Ambassador and the featured school was Henry School.
Downtown Paris Association Executive Director Kathy Ray was excited about the attendance and this year’s entries. “Everyone just went all out for the parade. The entries were really great and imaginative.”
The parade route was larger this year and Ray noted, “We had crowds lined up all along the route. I think people liked the parade being longer this year.”
Winner of this year’s Clark Griswold Award was BPU, with Henry County Medical Center winning Most Christmas Spirit; Sandra and Kelley’s Dance Studio won Best Decorated; Paris Danger Soccer won Best Walking Unit; Mary Roth won Most Religious; and Tim Wirgau won Best Golf Cart.
In photos, the gang from Henry County Schools’ central office, were all bundled up as snowmen; O’Daniel and Averie O’Daniel were escorted on the parade route by John Etheridge, and Darcy Bond and Schuele accompanied the Marching Patriots. (Shannon McFarlin photos).
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