By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Watching a parade in 34 degree weather always requires layers – but this year it also called for pointy elf ears.
With the theme of “Elves on Main,” the Holiday Parade in Bowling Green Saturday morning must have emptied local retail shelves of any elf-like ears.
There were dancers and bands in Spock-like ears. There was a school bus with giant pointy ears. There were images of Will Ferrell from the holiday movie, “Elf.” And, as always, the Wood County District Public Library took a more literary interpretation and paraded as the bow-and-arrow carrying elves from “The Lord of the Rings.”
After a hiatus last year due to the COVID pandemic, Bowling Green area residents were excited to sit out in the frigid weather to watch elves take to the streets.
Children perched on the curbs to be close to tossed candy. Adults clutched hot cups of coffee or cocoa to warm their hands.
Harold Meyers and his three daughters got to Main Street early to claim their customary spot on the parade route in front of the Cla-Zel.
“We’ve done it every year,” Meyers said. The family even drove from Custar in sleet one year for the parade – only to find it canceled due to the weather.
“It’s a tradition,” daughter Cortney Meyers, 12, said. “This is our spot.”
This is the first year the girls’ grandma wasn’t able to attend due to health issues. But Harold Meyers assured she would be watching the televised version on Channel 11.
Some newcomers to the annual parade also ventured out into the cold.
“I took the kids to the store the other day, and they were hooked on the lights,” said Chelsea Reinhart, of Bowling Green. So Reinhart bundled up her sons, Jonathan, 1, and Jameson, 2, for the parade.
“The boys are in at least three layers, plus double socks,” and of course their John Deere stocking caps, said their grandma, Stacy Gerschutz. “And we have Christmas blankets in the wagon.”
Sitting on the newly-added bleachers at the Four Corners were some other newbies to the holiday parade. Elana Felber, Bailey Wysong and Kayla Madden, who are all seniors at Bowling Green State University, had never before heard of the annual parade.
“I student teach at Crim and found out about it there,” Wysong said. So she convinced two friends to join her on the chilly metal bleachers – armed with steaming hot chocolate.
“I like parades and I love Christmas,” Wysong said.
Up North Main Street a bit was another BGSU student, Taylor Wise, who had to put in volunteer hours for her academic scholarship. Decked out in elf ears, she was charged with slowing down or speeding up the parade entries to make sure they hit the Four Corners at the right time for the televising.
“I did pick this,” Wise said of the frigid volunteer job. “I get to see the parade and do my community service.”
On the other end of the age spectrum was parade regular Eleanor Fether, 88, who was watching from her porch on North Main Street.
“I’m here every year,” for the last 40 years or so, Fether said.
“It’s a little nippy this year,” she said. But she wouldn’t dream of missing the parade. “It’s Christmas,” she said.
Some people walking in the parade veered off course to hand-deliver candy to Fether. A couple international students at BGSU climbed her steps to put their national flags on her walker.
The bands are Fether’s favorites. But she is also partial to any parade entry with an American flag. Her friend, Karen Reddy, said Fether insists on standing as every flag passes her porch.
Then Reddy re-wraps her friend in a blanket to keep her warm.
“Every time a flag goes by, I have to redress you,” Reddy said with a smile to Fether.
Many of the parade participants are also regulars. This was the fourth year for the National Tractor Pulling Championships to have a float in the festivities, said Jim Ault, who had been nominated by others to be the group’s “parade boss.”
Being the boss has its benefits.
“I’m going to be in the truck,” with the heat cranked up, Ault said.
Some of the crew got all decked out for the parade, including Greg Blausey who was quite conspicuous in his green velvety pantsuit and elf ears. It mattered little to him that his ensemble was a women’s size 3XL, and was about six inches too short for his frame.
“We got it from the North Pole,” Blausey said. “We have a seamstress at the North Pole.”
Marching band members came prepared for the freezing cold. Kristin Ford said winter parades are much tougher than those in the summer. But she came armed with hand warmers and a red Santa hat.
And she was prepared for the cold temperatures making her mellophone – which was strung with Christmas lights – toot sharp.
The parade and all its elves brought a welcome cheer to the city after a holiday season with no parade last year.
“It’s exciting to have it back. It’s great to see so many people,” said Bowling Green Municipal Administrator Lori Tretter.
This year, parade watchers sat on their porches, the curbs, the new downtown parklets and the 30-foot long bleachers where Main Street hits Wooster.
“I think that’s a fabulous addition to the parade,” Tretter said of the bleachers where people could sit to watch the band, dance and baton performances at the Four Corners. “This is a great showcase for Bowling Green.”
This year’s parade featured eight marching bands, several dance groups and twirling teams, floats with smiling children, convertibles with waving politicians, community organizations, businesses and of course, Santa Claus.
There were 74 units in the parade. “We were still getting calls yesterday” from people wanting to be part of the festivities, said Mary Hinkelman, executive director of the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the parade each year.
“People were very, very excited this year,” Hinkelman said.
“The smiles – oh my gosh,” she said. “The kids were ecstatic. It was grand.”
The parade typically lines Main Street with an estimated 3,500 people.
“We had just as many people – if not more,” Hinkelman said.
And the televised version, narrated by Jerry Anderson and Ryan Wichman, is expected to put Bowling Green in the spotlight to another 30,000 viewers. The chamber of commerce will put up a link to the parade video as soon as it is available, Hinkelman said.
