Small Town Christmas Parade

Love a parade? Me too!

There’s nothing more American than a small town parade.  And whether it’s a tiny burg or a larger city, the format is wonderfully predictable. There’s an easy kind of comfort in these reliable traditions – you know what to expect from a parade, and it always delivers. Any surprising variations will show you what’s important to that town.

Bloomfield Kentucky’s Christmas parade had folks lined up on the sidewalks –  kids on the curbs, older folks in lawn chairs.

A flag presentation opened the parade. Sometimes military members will present the flags, other times it’s a local community group. Either way, it’s an honor to be the flag bearers.

Next comes the town’s big, expensive equipment.  Fire trucks, ambulances, and police cars rolled by in slow motion. It lets folks see where their tax money has gone.

The town’s beauties are traditionally dressed in fancy gowns, while local dignitaries wave from swanky convertibles.

There’s always a car club in the parade showing off carefully restored autos. Sometimes the lineup includes a motorcycle club or a Shriners lodge with miniature vehicles. Out here in farm country, it’s tractors and horses.

The high school marching band is a crowd favorite, as are the cheerleading squads and dance clubs.

Local businesses compete for honors with theme-based floats.

Regardless of the town’s size, be it two blocks or twenty, the parade will travel the distance of the main drag.  Thru traffic is held at bay until the parade passes by.

In our region, candy is tossed to the kiddos creating an adorable street scrabble.

At the end of a Christmas parade, it’s expected that a host of elves are followed by Santa in a sleigh.

When the parade is over, everyone slowly makes their way out of town as backed-up traffic is finally allowed to proceed.

I love these small town traditions. It’s the continuity from one town to another that’s so charming, and it’s what binds our country together as a nation. A shared sense of expectations.