3rd Annual Lighted Christmas Parade Successful on All Counts

HARRISON – After all the up-and-down weather forecasts which threatened the 3^rd Annual Harrison Lighted Christmas Parade, good old Mother Nature got it together and provided a moderate, clear and dry evening for the event.

A large crowd turned out to watch the parade, encourage participants, enjoy the many highly-illuminated entries and, of course, collect the candy thrown to the sidelines. Participants included seasonally-garbed walkers (including The Grinch), glittering vehicles and floats including a bus that could guide in the mother ship. Many of these included children in their “A Country Christmas” creations, and after all, it is all about the kids, right?

But wait! This parade was also a competition for which entries met the two challenges of Best Use of Theme and Most Lights. Judges scrutinized them all and came to the decision that Clare County Central Dispatch best nailed the “A Country Christmas” theme and the Auxilio bus drivers’ entry blazed best by displaying the Most Lights.

After the parade, the Memorial Christmas Tree in the Town Square was switched on, with its lights memorializing loved ones lost.

Also, Santa sleighed in, arriving at Harrison City Market where he and his lovely wife greeted throngs of children expressing their fondest wishes for Christmas morning. That story and photos are also included in this issue.

All in all, this third annual event was successful and a heart-warming sendoff for the 2023 Christmas holiday season. And, no, there was no sighting of Li’l Abner or Daisy Mae…maybe next year.

© Clare County Cleaver