CRESTVIEW — Main Street Crestview Association members believe this year’s Dec. 5 Christmas parade drew more attendees than ever before.
“Oh my gosh, there’s so many people here,” Coney Island Hotdogs owner Julia Phillips said, watching from in front of her landmark restaurant. “I think there’s a lot more people out than ever before. It’s such a beautiful, clear night for it.”
Crestview police estimated more than 10,000 people attended the parade.
Even before Mayor David Cadle, City Clerk Betsy Roy and the city councilmen flipped the switch lighting the city’s Christmas tree, parking around the central business district was at a premium, with families parking in adjacent neighborhoods and across U.S. Highway 90 and State Road 85.
FAMILY TIME
J.R. Reid and his new bride of less than a month, Alissya, joined his siblings and parents as they claimed a prime spot to observe both the Christmas tree lighting and the parade.
“We haven’t been married a month yet,” Reid said, hugging his wife close. “It’s our first cold Christmas together.”
Lilly McClean stood eagerly on the bottom rung of a barricade to get a front row spot to catch candy tossed by marchers. She had already made her list for Santa.
“I want time on my phone,” she said, hoping to add minutes to her cellphone plan. “And a Barbie doll.”
Bonnie and Gary White waited patiently in camp chairs, their 2-year-old granddaughter, Aralynn Callens, between them, each with a warm blanket over their laps to ward off the chilly night air.
“She’s been waiting for this all day,” Bonnie White said.
With plastic grocery bags at the read, Ayden Wharton, 4, joined his friends Marcell Livingston, 9, Trevor Peatty, 8, and Thomas Long, 7. His wish list was fresh on his mind.
“I want a bike, a gold necklace and a watch,” he said.
SCHOOLS, SCOUTS AND BUSINESSES
Marching units included bands from Crestview High School, Baker School, Davidson and Shoal River Middle Schools, and Rocky Bayou Christian School, and the Baker School chorus.
Businesses, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and martial arts and cheer studios marched, performed routines and did back flips up Main Street.
This year’s parade theme, “Christmas at the Movies,” was in evidence on many of the floats. The Crestview City Council waved from a mobile drive-in picture show, with “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” projected on a screen on the float.
The Grinch showed on many other floats, including a festively lit cage on the Crestview Police Department’s float. At least two floats featured scenes from “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” with the First Presbyterian Church’s version complete with purposely garish artificial trees, Snoopy’s over-decorated dog house, and Vince Guaraldi’s familiar soundtrack playing music from the 50-year-old TV special.
Float and window display winners will be announced by Monday, with awards distributed at a City Council meeting in January.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview Christmas parade draws record crowd (PHOTOS, VIDEO)