Rain-deer games
By Kirsten Ballard
Published in News on December 6, 2014 11:58 PM
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
Reginald Miller, 6, shows off his dance moves as the marching bands approach during the Wayne County Christmas Parade in Goldsboro on Saturday afternoon.
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
Dogs from the Wayne Adoption Center show off their holiday collars at the Fremont Christmas Parade on Saturday afternoon.
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
Olivia Newsome, 3, collects candy and places it in her umbrella at the Fremont Christmas Parade on Saturday afternoon.
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News-Argus/MELISSA KEY
From left, cousins Wyatt Thompson, 6, Drake Bass, 5, Lane Beamon, 3, and Libby Bass, 5, react as they watch the firetrucks pass by at the Fremont Christmas Parade.
John Michael Southerland's feet started moving before he could hear the drums.
He danced in excitement, waiting for the Christmas parade in Fremont to begin.
The 5-year-old clutched his bucket, ready to grab the candy being flung from the floats.
But the little boy was not only waiting for a sweet treat.
He also wanted to see "the drummer people."
Fremont, Mount Olive and Goldsboro kicked off their respective holiday seasons with parades that saw hundreds shrug off wet weather and line streets across the county.
Rob Wooten, who served as grand marshall for the Fremont parade characterized the event as "awesome."
"It gave me a chance to come home," he said.
After he kicked the event off, the Charles B. Aycock Marching Band followed him, playing a Christmas medley.
John Michael watched, awestruck, as members of the band passed -- moving his feet all the while.
Mary Beamon's son, Rhett, loved the dogs best -- volunteers from the Wayne Adoption Center walked a variety of breeds past the crowd.
"He enjoyed it, but the dogs and horses, he loved," Mary said.
Local pageant winners and fire departments were next -- parading down the road, blaring sirens and chucking sweets to children.
Jax McDonald covered his ears as the cacophony of North East's, New Hope's, Polly Watson's, Pikeville's and Fremont's fire departments blared down the street.
"It too loud for him," his grandmother, Renee Pulley, explained.
But for 9-year-old Faron Gurley, it was the best part.
"I like the fire trucks best," she said. "I like all the people on top of them. And the noise."
She stood, candy bag outstretched, with a reindeer Santa hat.
Her sister, Casie Belmon, rode atop the Fremont truck. Casie is this year's Fremont Fire Princess.
The crowd at the Goldsboro parade matched the enthusiasm that was on display in Fremont.
But 6-year-old Reginald Miller stole the show with his dance moves.
The boy used the marching bands to find his groove.
Kyah Crow, 3, waved to every person in a Santa hat.
"Merry Christmas," she would yell from her spot, alongside her cousins, Heidi and Molly Althoff, in front of Toreros.
Kyah smiled and greeted Mayor Al King and "American Idol" contestant Majesty Rose -- wiggling to the music and gasping in delight at the "princess" pageant queens.
"She's excited about everything," said her aunt, Tara Althoff.