Parade spreads Christmas cheer
Posted on Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 3:31 pm
BOWLING GREEN – The town of Bowling Green’s annual Christmas parade and art show spread some holiday spirit Saturday night.
People lined the town’s Main Street from the intersection of Broaddus Ave. south through town to watch the parade on a clear but chilly evening. The theme for this year’ parade was ‘Light up Caroline with an old fashioned Christmas.’
Earlier in the day, the Holiday Fine Arts Show was held in the Bowling Green Event Hall (formerly town hall). It featured works of art in all mediums by local artists and students of Caroline County Public Schools. Works by local artists was juried and on display for sale in the main hall while art created by students was exhibited in the lobby.
It was the third year the parade has been held at night. It featured a little over 70 entries, including fire baton twirlers, a fife and drum corps, fire and rescue vehicles, motorcycles, tractors, an assortment of other decorated entries and floats, and a visit from Santa Claus, who rode on a horse-drawn carriage.
The parade grand marshal was state Sen. Ryan McDougle. Judges for the parade included Reedy Church Supervisor Reggie Underwood and his wife, Vera, and Town Councilor Otis Wright.
The winners of the parade, listed by the various categories, were as follows:
Judges Choice, Best in Parade: Rowe Materials Lighted Concrete Mixer Truck
Best Reason For The Season Float: Calvary Baptist Church Living Nativity
Best Lighted Float: 1st-Union First Market Bank; 2nd-Caroline County Public Schools Transportation; 3rd-Caroline County Relay For Life
Best Parade Theme Float: 1st-Nationwide Insurance Express Miniature Train; 2nd-Round Oak Baptist Church and Pre-School; 3rd-Caroline County Library
Best Walking Float: Caroline County Girl Scouts
Best Vintage Vehicle: Mark DePolla, 1972 John Bean Fire Engine; Stuart Cecil, 1958 Mustang
Best Commercial Vehicle: 1st-L.L. Carter Trucking; 2nd-Bud’s Towing
Best Tractor: 1st-David Adams, John Deere; 2nd- Poor Boys
Best Motorcycle: American Legion Post 221
Best Marching Unit: 1st-Caroline High School JROTC; 2nd-Tri-county Starlights; 3rd-Caroline High School Winterguard
Best Rescue Squad: Ladysmith Rescue Squad
Best Fire Department: 1st-Sparta Volunteer Fire Department; 2nd-Fort A.P. Hill Fire Department
The following are the winners of the Holiday Fine Arts Show:
Public’s Choice Award, voted on by art show attendees by ballot: Amanda Young
Best in Show: Patricia Hill
Painting or Photography: 1st-Debra Howard; 2nd-Jennifer Donald; 3rd-Joss Vossberg
Three Dimensional Art: 1st-Katie Boltz; 2nd-Jeanne Stephens; 3rd-Cheryl English
The Bowling Green Arts Commission also sponsored a holiday window display contest for Bowling Green businesses. Stone Creek Antiques won 1st place, and LapDog won 2nd place.
