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Oriental's 2014 Spirit of Christmas Parade
1 Dragon, 2 Pigs, 3 Horses, 11 Pipers and a Host of Reindeer
December 16, 2014

R
eindeer were out in numbers at Oriental’s 2014 Spirit of Christmas Parade. Also in the mix, – a couple of pigs, a dragon and guys in bathrobes (and one kilt.) Not quite what most Christmas parades would highlight but the emphasis on Broad and Hodges Streets on Saturday seemed to be on spirit.

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Reindeer from 1st Citizens Bank in an homage to the TV-movie Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

This year’s parade theme was Holidays in the Movies. A few entries rose to that challenge. First Citizens Bank paid tribute to the Rudolph TV-movie, with two tellers prancing along the parade route. The movie-theme call out is how one of the pigs — Maggie Monk dressed as Miss Piggy from the Muppets Christmas Movie on the Pigeon Holes float — came to be in the Christmas parade.

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One of the entries in the parade’s theme — Holiday Movies – Pigeon Holes float featured Miss Piggy and Kermit from the Muppetts Christmas Movie. No word on whether the Grantsboro Piggly Wiggly’s store pig – walking in the parade – made any moves.(Photo: J. Reiswig)

Reindeer clearly outnumbered pigs, though. There were dogs who sported substantial one-day growth of antlers. And golf bags appeared as reindeer, too, pushed along by the golfers in the Minnesott Ladies Golf Association.

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Some reindeer rolled in with golf bags, accompanied by the Ladies Golf Association at Minnesott Golf and Country Club.

Old and classic vehicles were part of the scene, too. And Santa made his appearance on board a Coast Guard vessel trailered in from Hobucken.

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Santa arrived, as he always does in Oriental’s Spirit of Christmas parade, by Coast Guard vessel. (Photo: J. Reiswig)

The parade moved to a new time this year, starting at 1p, several hours earlier than in past years. That made for a warmer and brighter experience.

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Skip Bailey took some friends on a ride in his newly acquired old car which was part of the parade.
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The Eleven Piping Pipers returned, with bows. Here, on Hodges Street near The Bean.
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Before the pa-rum-pum-pum-pum, a drummer with the Pamlico High School band waits for the parade to begin.

More photos and judges’ winners ahead…

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Toni Leavitt and Bob Andrews were among the Oriental Tree Board members in the parade.
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If flying reindeer could be in the parade, why not a floating dragon? The crew who bring Oreintal’s Chinese New Years Dragon to life floated by.
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.. along with their rhythm section. Shown here are Dan Reinecke and Nol Engel.

Here are The 2014 Spirit Of Christmas Judges Awards:

  • Christmas Musical Award: PCHS Band
  • Reindeer Games Award: First Citizens Bank
  • Most Gracious Award: 11 Piping Pipers / TownDock.net
  • Glamorous Puppies Award: Oriental Village Veterinary Hospital
  • Christmas Package Award: Grant Garman
  • Rigsby Rocks Superstar Award: Rufus Edwards et al
  • Most Prepared For The Holiday Award: Cubs & Scouts Pack/Troop 683
  • Best Santa Look-alike Award: Croaker Festival
  • Most Athletic Award: Minnesott Country Club
  • Holly & Ivy Award: Oriental Tree Board
  • Best Dressed Golf Cart Award: Picketts Last Charge
  • Best Treats Award: Pamlico Community College
  • Larry Walker Memorial Award: Roe Family (with Leesed Grandchildren)
  • Whoville Award: Daniela Norman
  • Holiday Princess Award: Pilgrims Chapel
  • Nautical But Nice Award: Bruno Family
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Part of the parade were PAWS and the New Leash on Life program (where inmates at Pamlico Correctional train dogs for adoption).
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Before the parade started, the hood of a Crosley was raised on Ragan Road. It wasn’t engine trouble, one of the men joked, but a chance for passersby to see the rubber band propelling the car. The hood was closed for the Crosley crew’s piston-based and motorized run thru the parade.
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Grant Garman, who acquired the Crosley in the past year, pointed out its credentials as helpfully stated on the trunk.

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The Pamlico Middle and High School Bands played the marching carols.
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The brass section of the band.
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Silent moment.
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Offshore Rafting had two canine crew.
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One of the longer entries in the parade was the 22-person dragon boat; it was publicizing next August’s Dragon Boat race..
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Parade Rounder-Upper Paul Fairbank moments before the 2014 Spirit of Christmas parade began
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Sticking with the Pig. Piggly Wiggly’s Grantsboro store sent its mascot to the parade this year
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A wooden wheeled cart creaked along the parade route, passing here, The Bean.
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Leslie Kellenberger at The Bean near the end of the parade route. She was publicizing next year’s —- the Second Annual — Ol’ Front Porch Music Festival. (It’s slated for October 17.).
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Following in the golf cart were fellow Porch Music Fest organizers Dick and Dottie Osmun.

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Royalty – a prince and princess – from Pilgrim Chapel Church, just outside Oriental.
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Carol Wright and Barbara Pearson were among the golfers with reindeer-costumed golf bags.
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Bob Miller, Ken King and other members of the Tree Board before the parade. The gift of trees is one they give year round, having planted hundreds in Oriental’s rights of way.
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Ben Bruno and his brother Zack, atop the Endurance Seafood boat in the parade. It was one of the few floats in the parade that could.
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One spectator rolled in to a curbside seat on Broad Street just as the parade was getting started.
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A color guard of veterans led the parade. Here, it passes Georgie Powell’s home and its giant step-through wreath on Broad Street.

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Tellers from First Citizens Bank walked the parade route as reindeer..
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Also part of the First Citizens entourage was Mary Clyde Dunn and her dog, who didn’t quite get past the audition for reindeer.
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Lllly wore relatively delicate antlers for her reindeer outfit..
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A big gift in cargo.
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Grant Garman and the Crosley in the parade.
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A merry elf. Local artist Gary Gresko was on Broad Street directing parade traffic.

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An old red tractor is wreathed for the season.
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Braids and The Grinch from Brantley’s Restaurant.
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Not all dogs came as reindeer. Veterinarian Sherri Hicks brought two of her own dogs as Mr. and Mrs. Claus.
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The Shriners brought their gators and a dog. (as well as the more formal funeral mourners.) (Photo: J. Reiswig)
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Don Clark played carols on a solo trumpet in the parade.

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Smiling, smoking a pipe and parading at the same time. Charlie Garrett was one of the Eleven Piping Pipers.
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The Pipers hadn’t rehearsed since the 2013 Spirit of Christmas parade. On Ragan Road before the 2014 parade began, they did a dry run of turning and bowing. The parade would tell if that was effective.
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Some of the pipers — Bernie Harberts, Tom McAlvoy, Greg Gallagher and Dave Mauney.
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Piper Rick Smith spreads cheer on Broad Street.
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Jan Dique balanced a cigarillo (out of the shot) and the Pipers’ banner. She and Wendy Osserman were the Banner Babes.
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By parade’s end, near the Bean on Hodges, the Pipers had a semblance of synchronicity in their bowing and scraping.

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Dog as elf.
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A greeting of the season.
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Jim Kellenberger sported a red jacket to complement the John Deere green of his tractor.
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Toward the very end of the parade came the fire trucks — and their sirens.
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Kathryn Gillenwater aboard one of the fire trucks.
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A trio of horses.

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An old truck bearing a new gift.
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One of the younger parade participants in one of the older vehicles..
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Wyatt Cutler on the Rotary Float that served as a reminder of next April’s Oriental Boat Show.
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Not all the candy went to kids. One parade spectator was prepared to collect candy tossed from the parade floats.
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And in case some tossers missed his target, no worries. He was outfitted with a gripper to retrieve fallen pieces.
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From the back seat of Skip Bailey’s car, June Durham takes a look aft. The barista from The Bean was accompanying Skip’s dog, Beanie for the ride.

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A tired elf near the parade’s end.
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Waves from the Pamlico Rescue truck
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Santa had candy.
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The princess and prince from Pilgrim Chapel toward the end of the parade route.

Posted Tuesday December 16, 2014 by Melinda Penkava


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