Spirit of Christmas sets the stage for holiday season
Of the nearly 95 floats and performances Saturday, Nov. 25, at the Spirit of Christmas parade, one drew resounding cheers from the mass crowd on Butler’s Main Street.
Flanked by fire engines, Santa Claus’ sleigh made its grand entrance at the conclusion of the almost two-hour display.
The big man said he comes every year for the spectacle.
“I wouldn’t miss it,” he said over the cheers of children outside the courthouse.
Taking time away from preparing for the holidays at the North Pole, Santa said he flew into Butler Airport early Saturday and was escorted into town by a limo.
“It’s just a beautiful town with a small, hometown flavor,” he said. “Santa loves the old towns — I love it.”
Organizer Megan Willison, Butler Radio Network, said it was a record-setting year for the parade.
“This is our biggest one since we have taken over,” she said. “We took over the parade in 2012, and since then, this is the biggest one we’ve had.”
Aside from the radio network’s roughly 10-person team, Willison said Westminster Presbyterian Church was “instrumental” in staging the massive parade.
“They have about five or six volunteers over there,” she said. “They’ve been helping us out today with the staging and getting them in line.”
Kelly Condon, a volunteer with the church, agreed this year’s parade was “a good bit larger.”
“In prior years, we’ve been asked to park about 39 floats,” she said. “This year, they asked us to park over 54.”
With spectators packing both sides of Main Street — nearly a mile from its intersection with West Pearl Street to Wayne Street — she said she hoped the crowd took away the spirit of the event.
“The spirit of thankfulness that comes from Thanksgiving, transferring on into the holiday season,” she said.
Troy Winkler, 7, said it was his first year participating in the parade and that it was “fun.”
“Because I got to throw candy,” he said. “Tootsie Rolls!”
Troy and his father, Dane, rode as part of the Baglier float.
“It’s a great event every year, and I’m glad the city puts it on,” Dane said. “It’s a really fun time — a great way to start the holiday season.”
The parade featured entries from businesses, nonprofits, local teams and clubs, civic groups, churches, schools, youth groups, and friends and neighbors.
And entrants were encouraged to design their floats and performances around this year’s theme: the “sights and sounds of Christmas.”
Residents Stacey and Jeff Bartholic said their children have participated in the parade several times.
“Our kids are involved, but it’s just a nice time to be here and be involved with the community,” Stacey said.
They said their children have participated with baseball teams and marching bands, but Saturday they were cheering on their son Jude, 12, with Butler Lacrosse.
“Every year we’ve got something to do with it,” Stacey said.
And with businesses up and down Main Street open late for the event, Jordan Grady — who participated as president of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce — said the massive turnout would have a major impact on the area.
“This whole day — they had a small-business day — the sidewalks were very busy, and then coming into this, you’ve got thousands of potential customers coming in and supporting the local businesses,” he said. “That ends up being huge for a lot of these Main Street merchants.”
But as the crowds parted Saturday, arm-in-arm and laughing, Santa reiterated the spirit of the day.
“I just hope everyone took away love and joy,” he said. “Because that’s what it’s all about.”
