MOUNT VERNON — Under a blue sky and mild temperatures, empty chairs were found along South Main Street early Saturday morning, reserving a front-row seat for those awaiting the annual Christmas Parade. A few hours later, the crowd was several rows deep along the two-block stretch from East Gambier Street to Public Square. Those once-empty chairs were no longer empty, and their occupants had a front-and-center view of the activities.
“This was really a great parade,” said Mount Vernon News Publisher Kay Culbertson. “We had a 101 entries on Friday and only a few that didn’t show.”
Larry L. Hall, 4-H youth development educator with the OSU Extension Office in Knox County, served as grand marshal along with his wife, Gwen, and their children and grandchildren. The Halls created their own “Christmas Around the Campfire” for their parade entry.
“Several people told me that Larry Hall was a perfect pick for the grand marshal,” Culbertson said. “He was really having a lot of fun.”
Nearly 100 entries lined up at the old football field on West Gambier Street to start the festivities. Groups like the Goldwing Road Riders took the opportunity to pose for a photo with Santa Claus, while others waited to be judged or placed last-minute touches to their floats.
Sears Optical won best overall entry with its take on the parade theme, “Christmas Around the Campfire.” The Best Overall category was sponsored by Knox Community Hospital.
Children enjoyed the many animals in the parade, including horses, goats and llamas, not to mention the endless supply of candy that was scattered along the parade route. But it was the arrival of Santa that brought smiles to the faces of young and old and made smaller children jump and squeal with delight.
Other entry winners included:
•Best Parade Theme, Covenant Christian Church, sponsored by First-Knox National Bank.
•Best Animal, Debbie Rudolph, sponsored by CES Credit Union.
•Antique Implement, Kokosing Valley Antique, sponsored by John and Debbie Urton.
•Best Business, CES Credit Union, sponsored by First-Knox National Bank.
•Classic Auto, Old Timers Replicas, sponsored by John and Debbie Urton.
•Best Emergency Vehicle, Critical Life EMS, sponsored by the Mount Vernon News.
•Best Equestrian Entry, Cramer Ranch, sponsored by the Mount Vernon News.
•Best Horse Drawn Entry, Directions Credit Union, sponsored by the Mount Vernon News.
•Most Humorous Entry, Walhonding Rube Band, sponsored by Peoples Bank and Secret Closet.
•Most Humorous Walking, Stephanie Fesler, sponsored by Dumbaugh Insurance.
•Best Motorcycle Entry, Goldwing Road Riders, sponsored by Parkside Restaurant.
•Best Organizational, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, sponsored by Dennis & Schisler, Mount Vernon & Knox County Chamber of Commerce, Herald’s Appliances and Electronics.
•Best Religious Entry, Church on the Rise, sponsored by Ann Laudeman and Real Living.
•Best School Entry, Mount Vernon High School Marching Band, sponsored by Central Ohio Technical College and Karhl & Co.
•Best Senior Adult Entry, Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County, sponsored by Tim Hortons.
•Best Walking Entry, McDonald’s, sponsored by Duke’s Quick Lube and Modern Builders.
•Best Youth Entry, Cub Scout Pack 350, sponsored by Mrs. Fred Barry Jr. and Barbara Barry.
