Christmas parade lined up for Saturday

Last week, Littleton started what local folks hope will become a tradition with the lighting of the town’s Christmas tree.

This weekend, an old tradition will be renewed when the annual Christmas parade makes it way through town.

That doesn’t mean there won’t be some newness to this year’s event.

Heidi Hogan, one of the parade organizers, said recently the parade is growing and this year it will include some groups who haven’t participate before, or who haven’t been here in some time.

That includes two different bands -– the drum line from KIPP Pride High School and the marching band from Warren County High School.

She said there will be race cars in the parade, a motorcycle club from Rocky Mount called her and plans to ride in the parade, and representatives from the Hawliwa-Saponi tribe, Lakeland Community Theatre, and “we have horses, horses, and horses,” she said with a laugh.

Of course, the one man everyone is waiting for, Santa Claus, will be on hand for the procession as well.

“We are excited about what we have in the parade this year,” she said. “We have representations of old cars,” she continued, explaining that some folks at a recent classic car show saw their picture in the Littleton Observer and decided to return for the Christmas parade. “McIver Elementary will be marching … and St. Joseph’s Catholic Church from Warrenton has an entry.”

If there’s one disappointment thus far, she said it’s that only one area church has elected to participate. But, she said this year’s parade has a good, solid, diverse line-up.

Betty Willis, a member of the town board of commissioners and one of the organizers of the parade, said Littleton has had a Christmas parade as long as she can remember.

“I moved back here in 1991 and there was a parade then,” she said. “I can even remember as a child the parade in town, they had floats and lots of bands.”

Although Littleton puts on a lot of activities -- including an Independence Day parade and the annual Lake Gaston -Littleton Fall Festival, she said the Christmas parade is always one of the more popular events in town.

“I think it is because the basic feeling is that Christmas is the big holiday,” she said. “Humanity is always looking, looking for a gift, and the whole atmosphere of Christmas is about giving … It’s a celebration.”

This season, she and Heidi are hoping for a large turnout.

“I’ve seen crowds fluctuate, when they know something is going to be happening, that draws a crowd, like this year, we have two bands in it. The people like music and the joyful noise.”

But, if bands aren’t your thing, she said there’s still plenty to see at the parade.

“Some people come because their kids like fire trucks, some because of the floats, some people come because they like clowns,” and visitors to town can find all of that in Saturday’s parade. “All the politicians come and participate,” she said. This year, organizers have invited all the local representatives to be on hand. “These people come to the parade, put their name in front of the people to say ‘We care about you.’

“All of it makes for a grand parade when you put it all together. It’s being given for the people, for the general people for them to come out and enjoy,” she continued.

Betty said the parade organizers are still taking donations from businesses who want to give to help support. She said an anonymous donor gave money to pay for the Warren County band to participate. “We’ve had wonderful participation from people who want to see this get done,” she said.