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Kids especially enjoy anyone with candy
By Malcolm X Abram
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Sunday, Nov 30, 2008
St. Nick, more than 70 other entries and 200 volunteers marched Saturday along Main Street at the 22nd annual Welcome Santa Parade.
During the 2007 parade, sub-freezing temperatures and gray skies had the shivering crowd bundled up tightly and clinging to the warmth emanating from their thermoses. But this year's parade was blessed with clear and sunny skies and a relative balmy temperature of 40 degrees that helped fuel the festivities.
Before the event — while Main Street was still filling with parade watchers — the volunteers assigned to keep the giant 40-plus-foot balloons afloat and away from traffic lights practiced their formations.
''This is my first time, and I thought it would be a good experience, and it's good to do something for the community,'' Brittainy Gissendaner of Akron said while holding onto a rope tethered to a giant clown.
''I'm here because my wife of 43 years told me I was going to be here,'' Jack Kellogg of Copley Township said while holding another clown tether.
''When she says come out, you come out. That's how you stay married for 43 years,'' he said, drawing laughs from his fellow balloon handlers.
Kellogg, his wife, Jackie, and his daughter, Jill, were part of a group of Revere Schools volunteers who, with several workers from Summit County Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, were assigned to the giant clown.
''We haven't started and we're already enjoying ourselves,'' Kellogg said, smiling.
Kristen Callahan of Twinsburg had a prime piece of curbside real estate just outside Canal Park, where she, her husband, Al, and their children, Caleb, 11, and Samantha, 2, were having their first parade experience.
Callahan said she was inspired to bring her family because when she was a girl living in a small town, her city's annual holiday parade was a special event for her and her friends.
''I heard about it, and I realized that I had never taken our kids to a parade,'' she said. ''It's just a fun family thing to do.''
''Hopefully, I'll see a lot of big floats,'' Caleb said.
As the clock struck noon and the parade began making its way, wide-eyed children lined the street, pointing and offering their vocal approval of the many floats and big balloons, which included Frosty the Snowman, a kangaroo, a giant dragon and reindeer.
Besides the big balloons, costumes and, of course, Santa, the most popular entries with the kids involved animals and anyone handing out candy.
On the stage set up in front of Lock 3 Park, parade emcee Matt Patrick kept things light while introducing local politicians, service organizations, local businesses, school bands, various floats and clubs.
After the parade, many watchers made their way to Lock 3 Park to enjoy the skating rink or to try some of the authentic German cuisine available at the Hutzenstub tent. But Kevin Williams of Akron and his daughter, Kendall, 7, were waiting for a chance to ride the merry-go-round.
The parade also was the Williams family's first, but Dad said it wouldn't be their last.
Williams who grew up in Canton, praised the city of Akron for the quality of the parade.
''Canton has had a parade, but not of this caliber. We're definitely going to make this a family tradition'' he said.
Malcolm X Abram can be reached at mabram@thebeaconjournal.com or 330-996-3758.
Get the full article here.
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