Pikeville Christmas Parade
By Turner Walston
Published in News on December 5, 2005 1:45 PM
The unseasonably warm weather could not melt the Christmas spirit Sunday at Pikeville's first Christmas parade. Hundreds of residents gathered along Main and Railroad streets to celebrate the season.
Float riders representing clubs, fire departments, church youth groups and local businesses tossed Tootsie Rolls, bubble gum and peppermints to outstretched hands. The Wayne Shrine Club's Mini-Rigs thrilled parade watchers, turning tight circles and zooming up and down the street. The Charles B. Aycock High School Marching Band performed a Christmas medley. There was a Christmas tree decorated with snow cones. Santa and Mrs. Claus were there, too, in a buggy pulled by a tractor.
News-Argus/Turner Walston
The Sudan Mini-Rigs, representing the Wayne Shrine Club, entertain the crowd at the Pikeville Christmas Parade on Sunday.
Dallas and Dakota Jones, 7 and 4, piled their goodies on the tailgate of their father's truck. The girls said they most enjoyed the horses in the parade.
"I loved it," said Marti Jones, who arrived early with her husband and daughters to find a spot along the route. "It was wonderful. I'm glad they finally got a parade here in Pikeville."
"It was enjoyable," Stevie Jones said. It was fun for the entire family."
Organizers Dennis Lewis and Jeff Jones began discussing a parade this fall. Lewis said he was happy with both parade participation and spectator turnout.
"We were surprised by the number of entries," Jones said. "At 8 p.m. Saturday night, I only had 56 entries."
There were 96 entries by 4 p.m. Sunday, when the parade began.
"We kind of got bombarded right there at the line-up time," Jones said.
"We had one rule: Everybody was invited," Lewis said.
Jones and Lewis both said the parade would return in 2006.
"As far as we know, it's going to be the same committee, and we're just looking to be bigger next year," Jones said.
"Absolutely," Lewis said. "No question about it."
The parade was sponsored by Harmony Lodge 340, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.