From BOWLING GREEN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
This year’s Annual Community Holiday Parade, “Holiday Sparkle,” . the largest holiday parade in Northwest Ohio, steps off Saturday, Nov. 18, at 9:50 a.m.
The parade is a supported by Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce and the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce Foundation and presenting sponsors, the City of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University and Wood County Hospital, Other major sponsors include Ohio Logistics, Visit BG Ohio, American Warming and Ventilating, and VFW Post 1148 as well as a grant from Hancock Wood Electric.
The first floats are expected to arrive at the Four Corners of Main and Wooster Streets downtown at 10 a.m.
The parade will be broadcast in full on WTOL 11 with Jerry Anderson, Ryan Wichman, and Caylee Kirby providing commentary for a parade full of “Holiday Sparkle.”
For those looking to view the parade in-person, the prime viewing area is in the downtown blocks from Ridge Street to Washington Street. Keep in mind that Main and Wooster Streets will close at 8:30 a.m. to bring in 30-foot bleachers to provide an excellent view of the performance area at the Four Corners.
This year’s Grand Marshall will be Mayor Mike Aspacher and the Honorary Grand Marshall will be Randy Gardner, former Chancellor of Higher Education for the State of Ohio. Chancellor Gardner is being honored in this year’s parade for all his years of public service as he looks to retire at the end of December.
The anticipated line up of the participating units includes ten area high school bands including our very own Bowling Green High School Band under the direction of Samantha Preisner, Bowling Green State University Marching Band under the direction of Jon Waters, performing units, floats, recognition of award winners, community leaders, organizations and so much more.
The line-up is as follows:
- BG Police Division
- Mark Wasylyshyn, Wood County Sheriff
- Color Guard VFW Post 1148 & Auxiliary and State Representative Haraz Ghanbari
- Grand Marshall
- Honorary Grand Marshall
- BG Public Works – Snow Plows
- Wood County Hospital
- BGSU President Rodney Rogers
- BGSU Marching Band
- Falcon Outfitters – BGSU
- Small Business of the Year
- WC Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 109
- WTOL 11 Defender
- Black Swamp Fine Arts School
- State Senator Theresa Gavarone
- Wood County Commissioners
- Bowling Green Christian Academy
- Bowling Green Christian Academy
- Athena Award Winner
- Wood County District Public Library
- Brookdale Bowling Green
- Thayer Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram Dealership
- The Beat Dance Company
- Bowling Green City Schools
- Wood County Young Democrats
- Doug Cubberly – Wood County Clerk of Court
- Sylvania Twirling Stars
- BG Pedal Company
- Call of the Canyon Café and Catering
- League of Women Voters of BG
- Van Buren High School Band
- Best Western Falcon Plaza
- The Union Bank Company
- The Heights Baton Corps
- All Star Driver Education
- Bowling Green Manor
- The Morning Show
- ODOT
- Woodward High School Band
- Kiwanis Club of BG/Zeus Award Winner
- Wood Lane Residential Services
- Sleek Academy & All About the Kids Learning Center
- Wood Haven Health Care
- Cousino Restoration & Environmental
- Sally Culling for Ohio
- Otsego High School Band
- National Tractor Pulling Championships
- NWO Montessori
- Wood County Board of Developmental Disabilities
- BW Twirlers
- First Baptist Church
- The Willow Center
- Cyclewerks Bicycle and Fitness
- Wood County Green Party
- Eastwood HS Eagle Marching Band
- Wood County Museum
- Wood County Agricultural Society & Jr. Fair Board
- Black Swamp Jeep Collectors
- BG Bobcat Wrestling Club
- Arcadia Marching Band
- Mosser Construction
- Outstanding Citizen of the Year – Female
- Citizens for BG Dog Parks
- Maurices
- Bowling Green Christian Food Pantry
- Black Swamp Players
- Poco’s Playhouse Doggy Daycare & Boarding
- Wood County Humane Society
- Erie County Fair Royalty
- Patrick Henry High School Band
- Portable Porcelain
- St Aloysius Catholic School
- Dusty Boots
- The Special Horseman Connection
- Julie’s Dance Studio
- St John’s Marching Titans
- Power of Yesteryear Club
- BGOPride Association
- Goldfish Swim School – Sylvania
- St. Al’s Cub Scout Pack 485
- Delta High School Band
- Outstanding Citizen of the Year – Male
- Five-Star Baton Company
- Cookie Cutters
- State Bank GIVES Truck
- Bobcat Cheerleading
- Bowling Green Bobcat Marching Band
- Santa
- Bowling Green Fire Division
The Chamber does encourage parade viewers and residents to offer financial support of the efforts of the Chamber and Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce Foundation for the Holiday Parade.
This is one of the largest events this organization undertakes, and it cannot be done without the support of the community. For details on how you can help bring cheer this Holiday Season, contact the Chamber at (419) 353-7945 or make your donation online at https://www.bgchamber.net/foundation/.
