Large crowd welcomes long lighted parade
Winners were chosen from among the large number of participants in the 12th annual Lighted Christmas Parade that filled the downtown area last Saturday evening, and Albany Bucks were awarded to the top parade float as well as to those whose tickets were pulled out of the hopper in the drawings.
The rules for the drawings stipulated that “you must be present to win.”
New this year for the Chamber-sponsored event on Small Business Saturday was an open microphone for anyone wanting to sing a Christmas song, along with entertainment by Robbin Guinn and seven young fiddlers playing Jingle Bells and Silent Night, local musician Matt Stapp, inspirational speakers, caroling, and lighting of a Memorial Christmas Tree.
Santa rode on the lead float this year, and then St. Nick stayed after the parade to pose for pictures and double check his lists while visiting with area children.
“It was a great night, and so much fun,” said Chamber manager Mary Beth Jones. “Lots of people helped make this a big success. I especially want to thank Prairie Star for the chili.”
Jones added that memorial Christmas ornaments can still be purchased for $5, decorated with an “angel’s” name, and hung on the Memorial Christmas tree.
Parade Winners
Selected as the Best All-around parade float, and winning the prize of $50 worth of Albany Bucks was Xi Chi Pi’s Christmas Vacation.
Tied for the top spot in Most Creative were the Shackelford County EMS ambulance as Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and the Doyle Jones family’s Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer, complete with Nina Jones waving arms and legs from the front grill of the bus as she tried to avoid being run over.
Best ATV was awarded to the McDaniel and Roysdon families for How the Grinch Stole Christmas, although, according to emcee Pam Davis, the Grinch and Santa were still in the midst of a battle over Christmas presents when they passed by the judges stand.
Best entry with an animal was won by the Cody Leech and Johnny Musselman families in one of the Fandangle wagons.
“Except for the Christmas lights, it looked just like a pioneer family driving home from a Christmas party,” said Davis.
Judges for the parade included locals Rebecca Bridges, J.B. Sparks, and Sharon Kitchens, as well as Dana Polen from KRBC in Abilene.
Scrip Winners
Local store patrons had the opportunity to earn tickets toward the four Christmas scrip drawings that were held throughout the evening.
Seven hundred dollars in Albany Christmas Bucks was given away to lucky ticket holders.
Winners of $50 each were Leandra Foy, Kathy Perdue, Margaret Butler, Annette Snyder, Amy Brown, and Gerlinde Lowe.
Jane Neece was the lucky owner of two of the winning $50 tickets.
The $75 winners were Terry Tomlinson, Rachel Ventie, Jordan Szatkow-ski, and Erica Viera.
