Christmas comes to Greenwood

December 4, 2006

By CHRIS TRAINOR
Index-Journal staff writer

Greenwood, SC -   A cold front moved into Greenwood Sunday, and it couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time.

The chilly air added a bit of wintertime wonder to the annual Greenwood Christmas parade Sunday in Uptown Greenwood. However, the brisk temperatures did little to keep local residents away, as thousands crammed each side of the road all the way up Main Street.

Dozens of organizations participated in the event, as the parade lasted a full hour and a half. It was a picturesque slice of Americana, with on-lookers cheering as family members rode or walked by in the parade, small children sitting atop their father’s shoulders and kids surrounding the ever popular balloon, cotton candy and candy apple vendors.

ABOVE - Greenwood mayor Floyd Nicholson, center in red, waves to the crowd Sunday during the annual Greenwood Christmas parade. Many members of local government rode in the event.

The event drew the appreciation of at least one visitor from out of town.  “I was really impressed with this one,” said parade-goer Tammy Roper. “I live in Fountain Inn, and this one in Greenwood is a lot better than our parade.”

All of the floats and people marching in the parade received a a warm reception from the crowd, but one group was received more boisterously than others: The Greenwood High School football team.
The Eagles, who won the Class AAAA Division II state championship Friday night, received a boisterous ovation all the way down the parade route.

“It was great to see the team parading down through there,” said Greenwood resident Clifford Peeler. “This weekend has been like a celebration.”

Peeler was highly complimentary of the way Sunday’s event was administered. He said he was impressed by the pace in which the long string of floats progressed and with the way police managed to keep people from running into the streets.

There was one nit-pick some revelers seemed to have with this year’s parade: The lack of candy that was thrown out.

One citizen in particular made his opinion on the matter known during the closing moments of the parade, hanging out of his car window as he rode in the opposite direction and screaming “Maybe next year Santa can actually throw out some candy!”

Local resident Furman Shumate agreed.   “It could have been better,” Shumate said. “But my kids still really enjoyed it.”  Shumate was fond of a float which had a Smurfs theme, which did seem to be one of the event’s key attractions.

While many enjoyed witnessing the parade, others dealt with participating in it.  Dana Clingerman, who marched with the Emerald High School Air Force Junior ROTC, was participating in her first parade.  “It was interesting,” Clingerman said. “It was tough to keep concentration and staying in step with all the yelling that was going on.”

In the end, Peeler was clear on his feelings about the parade.  “Best parade we’ve ever had, simple as that,” Peeler said. “A lot of hard work went into it, and we appreciate that.”

2006 Parade Awards

Best of Show, Best Adaptation of Them & Best Non-Profit - The Burton Center

Best Industry/Commercial - Lakelands Orthopedic

Government - Greenwood Commissioners of Public Works

Preschool - The Learning Vine

Middle School - Edgewood Honor Chorus

High School - Greenwood Christian Cheerleaders

Performing Group - Susie's Academy of Dance

Band - Ninety Six High Marching Band