By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
A little over a week removed from Santa’s visit to Bucyrus, the jolly old elf made a parade appearance held in his honor in Crestline.
Winding from Union Street to North Seltzer Street, the Santa Parade featured a color guard, the village’s police, EMS, and fire departments, Crestline Cub Scout Pack 317, the Crestline Marching Band, and the Crestline Harvest Festival Queen Sophia Winters and Miss Congeniality Sydney Weisman. Rounding out the parade was Santa and Mrs. Claus passing the parade goers on a coach drawn by two horses dressed as reindeer.
Crestline Village Council member Clayton Herold noted a few differences about this year’s parade compared to years past.
“We have traditionally held our Santa Parades on a Sunday afternoon during the day, and this year we decided to do it on a Saturday, and I think it has turned out great. We have a lot of people here tonight. Just with the parade with lights from the police department, and the fire department with their vehicles, and even the horses and carriage was lit up. It was really cool.”
The parade came to a finish at the Santa House by the gazebo where the village held the annual tree lighting. Herold explained where the inspiration for the tree lighting at the gazebo came from.
“Beth Payne who is one of the committee members was out of town over Christmas last year, and she (had) seen a gazebo with a tree in the middle, and it was all decorated and everything, and she wanted us to do something like that in Crestline,” Herold said.
Herold noted that the Crestline VFW donated the money for the tree, and that Schieber’s Auto Care of Galion donated money for the lights.
After the Christmas tree at the gazebo was lit, students from Crestline’s preschool through fifth grade placed an ornament on the tree. After the handmade ornaments were placed by the class, each class would then sing a Christmas carol.
As the Christmas tree was lit and carols were sung, a line formed outside of Santa’s House as children waited their turn to tell Santa what they wanted.
Waiting in line with their family, brother and sister Drew and Abby Egbert explained what their favorite part of the parade was, what they were going to ask Santa for Christmas.
“I liked when everybody started to sing,”Abby said. “I am going to ask Santa for a remote control car
“I liked it when everybody sang too” Drew said. “I am going to ask Santa for a bike.”
Waiting in line with her family, Mary Hazlewood spoke about her favorite part of the parade, and revealed what she was going to ask for Christmas from Santa.
“I liked the marchers the most,” Hazlewood said. “I am going to ask Santa for the Grocery Game and Shop Kids.”
Santa stayed at his house until 7:30 p.m. Saturday listening to the children’s Christmas wishes. Herold noted that the Village of Crestline would keep the community posted of when Santa would return to the Santa House in Crestline.