Christmas Parade and Winterfest Kicks off Holiday Season In Marianna

Los Angeles Angels Star, Jeff Mathis is Grand Marshall for Parade

By Sid Riley

It was a cold, blustery Saturday and it was also Conference Championship Games Day in the football world, but the event was still a success. “We were pleased with the participation and the turnout, but we realize it was competing with several factors which took away some of the potential crowd. We will avoid those conflicts next year, and will have an even more successful event,” stated an enthusiastic Main Street Director, Charlotte Brunner.

Winterfest kicked off at noon with the food and arts and crafts vendors manning numerous booths. A large screen television which was offered as a drawing prize by Municipal Development was in operation in Market Street Pocket Park to enable those diehard football fans to keep up with scores while the festival was underway. Main Street was giving away Christmas stockings, hats, and wrapping paper which was donated by Wal Mart. Main Street sold numerous “Jeff Mathis” autographed baseballs as a fund raiser. These were $20 and Charlotte Brunner states she still has a few left.

The parade was very large, and the crowd swelled along the route to watch, enjoy, and cheer their favorite floats. In total, some 75 organizations, businesses, and individuals participated, including the Marianna High School Band and the Marianna Middle School Band. It was a great way for the city and its residents to kick off the 2009 Christmas Season.