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Spirit of Christmas 2017
We hardy few: festivities continue in spite of rain
December 12, 2017

R
ainy, windy weather altered schedules for the Spirit of Christmas this year. The streets were not as packed and in at least one case, Santa had to move inside. Despite the uncooperative weather, residents and visitors held fast.

Spirit of Christmas 2017
The Provision Company placard tells it like it is.

The parade went on. As did the lighting of the star and the kayak flotilla. Visitors still came to town and sales of rain gear may have been higher than usual. This year’s theme made things festive: A Christmas Buffett – Jimmy Style.

Spirit of Christmas 2017
Parrotheads in the street.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
A child on a golf cart, the preferred mode of travel, watches the parade.

Town dogs made a strong showing, promoting businesses or waiting to be adopted.

Spirit of Christmas 2017
Joule, so named for her high energy, visits the Brewery with PAWS, waiting to be adopted.

Tradition demanded caroling choirs. Oriental First Baptist provided. The United Methodist Church hosted a live Nativity produced by The Children’s Theater Workshop.

Spirit of Christmas 2017
The choir sings traditional carols.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
Angels wait for their cue.

Local businesses put out their best refreshments and food. The mood was bright and festive against a dreary backdrop. Spirited, you might say.

Spirit of Christmas 2017
The Brewery served up over 200 lbs of barbecue.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
Santa and Mayor Belangia light the star at the town dock.
Parade Winner Results
  • Da Mayor – Best music
  • Provision Co. – Best use of pastel colored hula skirts
  • Offshore Rafting – Most extravagant production and best hula hoopist
  • Nautical Wheelers – Best coordinated outerwear
  • Lilly – Best antlers on a small horse
  • Roe family – Best Margaritas
  • Jones/Lee tractors – Best use of agricultural machinery in a holiday parade
  • Oriental Vet Hospital – Best holiday decorations on a canine
  • Oriental Rotary – Best cuisine
  • Dixon family – Best Christmas elf in distress
  • Boy Scouts and Cubs – Best pirate flag
  • Oriental FWB – Best traditional theme
  • New Dragon – Most energetic and colorful
  • Brantley’s – Best fed Grinch/pointiest hair
  • New Bern YC – Best Macy’s Day parade entry
    (coming from far, far away they managed to get 20 people together…)
  • Coulter kids – Best behaved
  • Capps Trailers – Best control of a float driven by a moose
  • Pamlico Community College – Most enthusiasm
  • NSA – Most likely to be ticketed for over loading a boat
  • Portraits of Christ – Most consistent
  • Barnett family – Best family float
  • NC Coastal Heritage – Prettiest boat
  • Animal Control – Best decoration on a municipal vehicle
  • Ol’ Front Porch – Best banner walkers
  • Dragon Boat – Largest boat in parade
  • River Keeper – Valiant and true
  • Reelsboro rescue boat – Wetest boat
  • Fire Trucks – Most red paint
  • Santa and the Coast Guard – Perfect ending to the parade

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Spirit of Christmas 2017
Santa, at least one elf, and the Grinch visited Brantley’s for breakfast.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
Snow fell at the side door.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
The morning market was empty except for Irma Bond and Bob Lyons, who sells fresh eggs. Bob left early. Irma stayed.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
The Bean featured an ornament workshop for kids and adults, with free hot chocolate.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
Alexis Skurjunis dressed for the weather, selling her custom mosaics from the shelter of Marsha’s Cottage.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
The windy weather was perfect for Jennifer Del Rio’s wind chimes.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
Dave Sargent’s roasted red pepper tomato bisque coaxed visitors in from the cold. Towndock.net staff went back for seconds.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
Pre-parade preparations.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
The color guard opens every parade.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
A theme emerged early: 5 o’clock somewhere.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
Mayor Sally Belangia and her husband Ken in their themed golf cart. Ken serenaded the crowd with Jimmy Buffett karaoke.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
The Provision Company supplemented their Hawaiian shirts with long-sleeved thermals.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
A small reindeer and her mother wave to the crowds.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
Golf carts are the transportation of choice.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
The four legged residents of Oriental took also walked in the parade.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
Santa Pup knows if you’ve been bad or good.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
A dog and his pet carrier.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
Spirit of Christmas 2017
Off-Shore Rafting handed out candy to the kids.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
And featured a fiery hula hoop dancer who bravely hooped in the cold.

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Spirit of Christmas 2017
The Boy Scouts became pirates for a day.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
The float riders for Capps Trailer’s defied the cold and wore their bikinis anyway.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
A small Santa hitching a ride.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
Keeping warm.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
County Fire Rescue trucks in line for the parade.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
Practicing the left-handed candy throw.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
Santa, riding with the Coast Guard. (Photo courtesy of Dori Arrington)
Spirit of Christmas 2017
The Red Baron makes an appearance. (Photo courtesy of Dori Arrington)
Spirit of Christmas 2017
Jimmy Buffett staples: palm trees and margaritas.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
Festive Moose won for best control of a float (driven by a moose). (Photo courtesy of Dori Arrington)
Spirit of Christmas 2017
Another kind of parrot head.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
A Christmas Minion. A Frozen Olaf. The New Bern Yacht Club is parade ready.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
The Macy’s Day Parade view.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
Rotary serves up cheeseburgers in paradise. (Photo courtesy of Dori Arrington)
Spirit of Christmas 2017
The Oriental Dragon attends every parade.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
Dragon handlers, Buffett style. (Photo courtesy of Dori Arrington)
Spirit of Christmas 2017
Officer Blayney ends the parade with a smile. Other passengers appear less enthused.

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Spirit of Christmas 2017
After the parade, the First Baptist Church invited attendees to their Christmas Cantata.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
Weather forced the live Nativity inside, where the happy couple waited by the manger.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
A shepherd and his flock.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
The warmest place outside the the Brewery.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
PAWS brought their adoptable dogs to do a meet and greet. This is Indy.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
Rabbit shows what he learned in the New Leash on Life program.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
The luminaria were lit before sunset, after the rain had passed.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
Hodges Street at sunset.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
Santa and the Mayor at the lighting of the star.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
Lighted boats and paddle boards navigate the harbor. (Photo courtesy of Dori Arrington)
Spirit of Christmas 2017
Two-thirds of the Christmas Fruitcake Flotilla.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
Frosty the Snowman arrives at the Town Dock by kayak.
Spirit of Christmas 2017
The Bean and Village Gallery at night. (Photo courtesy of Dori Arrington)
Spirit of Christmas 2017
Lights on Hodges Street. (Photo courtesy of Dori Arrington)
Spirit of Christmas 2017
Luminaria at the end of the night. (Photo courtesy of Dori Arrington)

Posted Tuesday December 12, 2017 by Allison DeWeese


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