Bird? Plane? Nope. It’s Superman on a tractor
- Last Updated on 07:39 AM 12/10/12
- BY The Gazette-Virginian
The 31st Alton Christmas Parade was deemed a success with about 500 people attending, Parade Coordinator Stacey Long said.
“It went very, very well. We had a good parade, and the crowd was excellent,” Long added.
The parade coordinator also was happy to report good weather throughout the event.
“I’m thankful that the weather held up for us, and it didn’t even rain,” Long said.
The parade kicked off at 11 a.m., and the surprise grand marshal was none other than Superman.
Some entries in the parade included Little Miss Alton Abby Duffer, Alton Baptist Church, the Shotwell family float and more.
Santa Claus rode up in the “Dukes of Hazard” No. 1 General Lee.
“The Shotwell family float would have won best float in my book if it was a competition,” Long said.
All the participants lined up at the Spring Hill Recreation Club on Harmony Road and made their way through downtown Alton, some throwing candy to the enthused crowd.
Cluster Springs Volunteer Fire Department sold jars of warm stew, and Harmony and Cedar Grove United Methodist churches served baked goods to the crowd.
A Pampered Chef booth and a jewelry booth were also on site during the parade, and according to Long, all the vendors did very well.
The crowd also thought the parade was a success.
John Cannon, a resident of Cluster Springs, said he really enjoyed the parade describing it as a tradition for his family to attend all the local Christmas parades during Christmas time.
“We bring the kids so they see it and get candy and have fun,” Cannon said.
The antique cars and fire trucks were his favorite part of the parade.
South Boston resident Wanda Davis said, “ I thought the parade was wonderful. It’s a hometown country parade. I like the fact that they can throw candy.”
Davis said her favorite part of the parade were the horses, and she always anticipates the Santa surprise every year.
Cousins Donna Zimmerman of Alton and Melinda Held of East Hyco Road said the parade was great.
“I liked Superman,” Held said.
“It was just a good parade, and it all came together real good,” Zimmerman said.
For Zimmerman and Held, both memebrs of Alton Baptist Church, going to the Alton Christmas parade is an annual tradition.
The two said the parade allows them to see a lot of their church family when they come out.
