By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
The city of Galion was filled with Christmas spirit and tradition Saturday for the annual Come Home to Galion parade.
More Christmas activities than the annual parade took place in Galion this year. The 
Brownella Cottage featured portrayals of characters from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. The Gill House featured a costume contest for kids age 3-10 with the costumes being from the animated film Frozen.
In Uptowne Galion ice sculptures were created and displayed, but it was the traditional parade that lined the streets.
Marlo Robidoux, who attended the parade with her daughter and grandkids, explained what brought them out to the parade.
“It is really nice to see everyone gathered together. It’s just kind of like a hometown feel,” Robidoux said. “It brings back a lot of nostalgia . . . the town coming together as a whole to celebrate the beginning of the Christmas season.”
Dave Davenport explained that he brought his wife and grandkids to see the parade to see Santa Claus.
“We came because my grandkids like to see Santa Claus, and we came to enjoy the parade and be with the people of Galion,” Davenport said.
Following the parade was the annual lighting of the Christmas tree including a reading of the first Christmas story from the Gospel. A ribbon cutting ceremony for their newly renovated Santa House was followed by the Jolly Old Elf taking time to hear children’s wishes before whisking back off to the North Pole.
More photos of the festivities can be found on the Photo page.