Children's Holiday Memories

Bedford area residents welcomed in the holiday season Saturday as the streets were lined with those attending the Bedford Christmas Parade.

Tom Wilmoth

This was one of the many floats harkening back to "Children's Holiday Memories" at the Bedford Christmas Parade

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Tom Wilmoth

Abby Adkins, 9, of Bedford bundled up before heading out to watch the parade.

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Tom Wilmoth

Children's Holiday Memories were pulled along by various parade entrants throughout the Bedford Christmas parade on Saturday.

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    “It’s nice to see the community come out,” noted Bedford Main Street Executive Director Linda Exley. “The comments were very positive.”

    Some 120 units made up this year’s parade and Exley said staging it this year from the old Winn-Dixie parking lot helped. The parade start was delayed for a few minutes while rescue crews attended  to  an   emergency   call   along  the parade route prior to its start.

    Cold temperatures gave the parade a decidedly wintry feel and floats were filled with presentations of this year’s parade theme, “ Children’s Holiday Memories.”

    The parade route was reversed this year and the corner of Main and Bridge streets was especially crowded with those attending. “The stores were doing well with hot chocolate and coffee,” Exley said. “Typically we have a strong crowd there and Main Street Methodist had hot chocolate in the park.” An announcer also helped keep parade-goers in Centertown informed as the different entrants made their way up Main Street.

    Six judges watched the parade from the Bedford Main Street’s windows. Their results included:

    Best Use of Parade Theme “Children’s Holiday Memories”- Bedford Christian Academy;

    Most Original-Pittman & Sons, LLC;

    Most Colorful- Autumn Care of Altavista;

    Best Marching Band Unit- Liberty High School, Matthew Farley, band director;

    Best Horse Drawn Unit- Royal Knight Shires, Geryl & Melissa Wade;

    Best Equestrian Riding Unit- Roanoke Valley Horseman Association;

    Best Dressed Horse- Cedar Creek Riders, Kenny & Leah Lovell;

    Best Equestrian Clean up Unit- Michael Joslyn III, Lorissa Joslyn, David Weddle;

    Best School Float- Bedford Science & Technology, Skills USA;

    Best Youth Group- Bedford Baptist Youth;

    Spirit Award-Rolling Thunder Motorcycles;

    Best Classic/Antique Car - Carl Smith;

    Best Classic/Antique Car Club- Orange Street Cruzers; and

    Best Scout Troop Presentation- Daisy Girl Scout Troop # 1037, Jamie Slusser.

    Also announced this week were the winners from the Centertown annual window decorating contest. Those winners included:

    Judges Pick- Gilded Era;

    Best Display of Theme” A Wii Little Christmas”- Sister to Sister;

    Best Showcase of Store Merchandise- North Bridge Books & Antiques;

    Most Creative (tie) - Bedford Hardware, Sister to Sister;

    Most Traditional Holiday Spirit- Arthur’s Jewelry;

    Most Whimsical- Clam Diggers Seafood;

    Most Original- Bedford Hardware;

    People’s Choice- Sister to Sister; and

    Honorable Mentions- Court Street Pizza, Jenny Bug Consignment, Glo-Lyn Flowers.

    Activities in Centertown continue this weekend. Upcoming events include  holiday shopping and carriage rides, caroling, Santa and fun Fridays, Dec. 12 and 19, from 6 – 9 p.m.