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Spirit of Christmas Parade Coming
Tribute to Larry Walker Planned
December 6, 2010

S
aturday’s Spirit of Christmas parade will pay tribute to Captain Larry Walker, who died last Thursday. Parade organizer Paul Fairbank says that at the head of the parade, in the Grand Marshal position, employees of Larry’s World Wide Marine Training will be wearing their dress whites riding in Larry’s convertible. On a trailer behind it, will be his boat with no one at the helm. In other years, Larry usually was last in the parade, Santa riding on board the Coast Guard’s orange inflatable.

The parade starts at 4p, and as in other years, makes its way down Broad Street, then on to Hodges and South Avenue before winding up at Lou Mac Park. This year’s theme is “Christmas Around The World.”

One addition to the parade this year is the “Million Mini March” (with not quite that many Mini-Coopers being part of the procession.) Paul Fairbank says that feature was added because so many of the wee cars were showing up in town.

Why is this man only semi-smiling? Because he still has plenty of spaces to fill in this Saturday’s Parade. He promises that that thermometer will be reading a higher temperature then. As for why this man is wearing an oil funnel? We’re not sure but it may be way of containing his anxiety that he’s not heard from more parade participants yet. Ask him when you call to enter…

If you haven’t yet signed up for being in the parade, there’s still time. See Paul at Village Hardware during the day or call him there 249-1211. You may also leave a message at his after-hours number, 249-0023.

Meanwhile, some advance word has come in of what the judges will be looking for in Saturday’s parade. As a service for those preparing their floats and entries, here are the categories:

– Spirit of Christmas 2010 Grand Prize (The float that best represents the theme, ‘Christmas Around The World.’)

- Best Decorated Bicycle

- Best Overall Decorations

- Best Music

- Best Youth Entry

- Best Animal/Pet Entry

- Funniest

- Best Mini – (That would be from the Cooper Mini class.)

- Spencer’s Choice Award (best rescue vehicle or tractor entry)


The reviewing stand will be the porch at 402 Broad Street, the second house up from the corner of Hodges Street, next to Nautical Wheelers at the Old Hotel. Judges this year are Harry and Melanie Fluharty, Tim Rogers and Janet Alexander (it’s their front porch) and Spencer Rogers, who these days has an affinity for tractors and firetrucks.

Janet Alexander says that the winners will receive public accolades and fifteen minutes of fame, a clock which starts ticking when Parademeister Paul Fairbank announces the winners after the parade.

Posted Monday December 6, 2010 by Melinda Penkava


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