I live in a small community that's getting bigger by the day. But at least we have one event that lets us remember our small town roots. It's the annual West Chester Old Fashioned Christmas parade, held for the last 32 years on the first Friday in December. I remember going to the parade for the first time 20 or so years ago. Then it consisted of a marching band, some antique cars, tractors and fire engines, a few Girl Scout and Brownie troops marching, some local pols on parade and, of course, Santa Claus. It took all of 30 minutes for the parade to wind its way around town.
Last night's parade lasted over an hour and a half. It featured 19 marching bands, a Salute to the Troops, a Bolivian dance troupe up from Virginia, and back from last year, the Lone Ranger atop Silver. The parade has benefited greatly from the addition of professional management and from corporate sponsorship. The name sponsor for last night's event was MARS Drinks.
As the parade has grown, so has the attendance with thousands of people clogging the narrow streets to catch a glimpse of the various floats.
The growth of the parade has been stunning over the last few years. But there is something about the smaller, locally managed events of 20 years ago I miss. Maybe it's something about the unpolished, unrehearsed marching of little kids, or the many local merchants who kept their doors open after the parade to serve cookies and hot drinks to spectators looking for a little warmth. Either way there is something about a parade and something about Christmas that reminds us of the way things used to be, and they way we'd like them to be now if we could only turn back the clock.
Just thought you might like to know.
Last night's parade lasted over an hour and a half. It featured 19 marching bands, a Salute to the Troops, a Bolivian dance troupe up from Virginia, and back from last year, the Lone Ranger atop Silver. The parade has benefited greatly from the addition of professional management and from corporate sponsorship. The name sponsor for last night's event was MARS Drinks.
As the parade has grown, so has the attendance with thousands of people clogging the narrow streets to catch a glimpse of the various floats.
 |
| The historic Courthouse in West Chester, Pa. decorated for Christmas |
I'm happy to live in a place where events like an Old Fashioned Christmas parade can take place. In addition to the parade there is Christmas caroling in the streets, a tree-lighting ceremony on the lawn of the old Courthouse, next to the creche and the menorah placed there to commemorate the holiday. We've had our First Amendment battles over all this, but for now at least common sense and good will have prevailed.
Just thought you might like to know.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment