County Seat Newspaper
of Clare County

Harrison’s 1st Lighted Holiday Parade a Success

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HARRISON – The Harrison community came out Saturday, Dec. 11 to officially welcome the Christmas holiday season. This year was a bit different, as it featured the city’s first lighted parade of vehicles, floats and individuals, all creatively bedecked in garland and holiday lights. This inaugural parade was sponsored by the Harrison Fire Department.

The afternoon saw some serious wet snowfall and high gusting winds, yet well before parade time, vehicles filled with watchers could be seen starting to line the parade route. Wind subsided, but the snow continued well into parade time. Still, attendees enthusiastically enjoyed watching the trucks, tractors, horses, and all manor of other vehicles cruising by with glittering holiday lights a-flashing.

Children, as always, found ways to play and that included snow play in the Town Square splash pad area where colorful lights beamed up through the snow cover.

This year, Santa arrived in a horse-drawn sleigh with Mrs. Claus at his side. It was a brisk ride on the parade route, but the Clause couple is used to that.

After the parade, the Harrison Area Chamber of Commerce conducted the reading of new memorial names and lighting of the Memorial Christmas Tree in the Town Square.

That was followed by the long-awaited opportunity for children to speak with Santa, receive a gift bag, and let their families snap the traditional photo with the jolly old elf. The line was long, but the wait was made more fun by the singing of Christmas carols while they awaited their turn.

Also available were hot chocolate at the Town Square as well as a holiday meal and treats at the Harrison City Market. So, despite the wintry chill, the event successfully offered ways to warm both the body and the heart.

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