Santa Claus is coming
to town early this year
 |
| CLICK IMAGE to play a video report on Lexington's newest holiday float. (JANE LEE/ Rockbridge Report) |
As hundreds of twinkling Christmas revelers march down Main Street this Saturday in Lexington’s annual holiday parade, Kris Kringle will bring up the rear in a shiny new sleigh.
The “All I Want for Christmas” theme will spark some new traditions for the community this year.
“The biggest thing is that Santa Claus will now be on a float in the holiday parade,” said Bob Lera, who has been chairman of the parade committee for six years.
In the past, Santa Claus has cruised into Lexington on a fire engine. This year his ride is receiving a jolly upgrade.
Mark Cline, local artist and owner of Enchanted Castle Studios, is crafting a holiday parade float modeled after the theme of the 1964 film “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”
The float will be a permanent fixture for Santa to ride on during the Lexington, Buena Vista, and Glasgow holiday parades each year.
“I wanted everybody to benefit from it,” said Cline. “Christmas is for sharing with everyone [and] this is something that the community can embrace as a tradition.”
And for the community, the parade festivities are never a small feat.
Last year, 1,700 people marched in the parade and 3,000 to 5,000 came to watch the merriment in motion. This year the Parade Committee has received 80 parade entry applications from local businesses and organizations.
“I’ve already started getting excited,” said Lera.
To prepare for the crowds, the parade committee starts planning early.
The committee met Dec. 13 of last year to begin brainstorming for this year’s event. And it’s not always an easy endeavor.
Typically the parade costs about $1,400. But this year’s extravaganza has proven to be a bit more costly. Santa’s float alone cost $2,200. Despite this, Lera thinks the extra expenses will pay off in the long run.
“We’ll store it from season to season, and reuse it over and over again,” said Lera.
Locals have more than just Santa’s new sleigh to look forward to this holiday season.
Dean Knick, Lexington’s People’s Choice 2008 Volunteer of the Year, will be s Grand Marshal of the parade in his 1983 Mercedes Roadster. But Knick is taking his honor in stride.
“Honestly, it doesn’t really make much difference to me,” said Knick of his parade position. “Since I retired, I just try to spend as much time as I can helping people.”
Knick will lead the charge in front of four different bands, a medley of fire and rescue squads, antique cars, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, a Wells Fargo stage coach, and even the Grinch.
And don’t forget the floats. The parade boasts an assortment of floats designed by a variety of local organizations.
“There are floats galore,” said Lera. “The area businesses go to a lot of effort to put together a lot of really nice ones.”
Participants in the parade will be marching for more than just the Christmas spirit. Judges will select winners in five parade categories – best float, best equestrian, best performing unit, best vehicle, and best band.
The parade will kick off at the corner of Houston and Main streets at 5:30 p.m. and end at the corner of Henry and Main streets around 7 p.m.
Produced by
Washington and Lee
journalism students.
Lead Supervisors:
Prof. Brian
Richardson
Prof. Indira Somani
Editing supervisor:
Prof. Doug
Cumming
Technical supervisor: Michael Todd