|
Sponsors Needed: Wont you help fund this year's parade.
Each year we pool our resources, solicit sponsors and host the Blythewood Christmas parade. In 2004 the sponsors afforded this event to be free to the parade entrants and funded 3 one thousand dollar scholarships we gave out in May of 2005. In 2005 the Christmad parade raised $4400 dollars, with this money being earmarked by the BBC for the scholarship fund. And in 2007 we intend to do the same thing - except bigger and better.
|
2007 Christmas Parade 2006 Dec 10th 3:00pm Christmas Parade 2005 Christmas Parade : Richard Clark
|
Christmas Parade Brings Holiday Cheer
To Blythewood (Dec 2004)
By Staff Writer: Chelsea Titi
Blythewood kicked off the beginning of the shopping season with the annual Christmas Parade. Mr. and Mrs. Raines started the Christmas Parade in 1995 as their way of thanking the community for their support and prayers. Mrs. Raines explains that the community has continued to stand by her side and this has enabled her to cope with her illness. When Mrs. Raines started the parade it consisted of a donkey and a cart that walked from the fire station to the post office. Mr. Raines who is 62 years old has been Santa Clause for nine years. "I love being Santa Clause because everyone needs a smile."
The parade continues to grow because Blythewood unites to continue the traditions of Christmas. The parade sparkled with an assortment of talents including dancing divas, the Tai Kwan Do students, the Kelly Mill Middle School step team, the Eau Claire high school marching band and the Girl and Boy Scouts Troops. "It's nice to know a small community can do something like this. My favorite part of the parade so far has been the Horse Pooper Scooper", stated a first time parade watcher. Native of Blythewood, L.J. Canzater, who is 51 years old, was appointed the position of being the collector of the left over horse remains. He enjoyed his part in the parade because he said, "It made me feel like a kid again. I enjoyed just being in it and plan on doing it next year. This has been the best parade because everybody has been as happy as they could be."
The free barbecue, chips, toys, surprise bags and the set of bleachers in front of the church were provided by the Threshing Floor Church. Pastor Ralph Walden said, "For the past five years we have given out free food and it is our church's way of giving back to the community. It seems to be something that the community enjoys. Today we probably served food to 250 people." Pastor Walden would like to thank Meyers Barbecue for donating the delicious barbecue. One of the members of the Threshing Floor Church, Ron Vogel, stated, "This is our church's way of blessing the community."
Blythewood's Parade consisted of an audience that expanded past the Palmetto's
state lines. Truck drivers from Alabama who have been traveling continuously
for 3 weeks were at the local grocery store picking up food for the road.
While they were standing in the check out line the cashier informed them
of the free barbecue at the church. They decided to stop at the church
for the free barbecue but did not know about the parade. Truck driver,
Carl Dickenson said, "because we have not been home for 3 weeks we
have missed our town's Christmas festivities. Thanks to Blythewood we
get to celebrate the holidays by seeing a Christmas parade."
This year's parade was once again organized by the Blythewood Business
Coalition. According to Business Coalition President J B Bishop, "The
entire parade was funded through our Corporate Sponsorships. Thirty different
local companies helped with the funding of the parade this year. All of
the profits from this year's parade will be placed into our scholarship
fund. We plan on giving out the scholarships to Blythewood Students sometime
in the Spring of 2005."
WIS newscaster, Dawn Mercer who is a Blythewood resident was the Parade's
Emcee at the judge's stand. She stated, "The parade has grown, in
1995 there was 1 float and today there were eighty." She implied
that she loves Blythewood and being part of the parade. "Blythewood
is God's country!"