By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
It doesn’t get much more perfect for parade day than Saturday.
As the bands tuned up their instruments, the twirlers perfected their hair buns, and the spectators claimed their spots along the route, people kept commenting on the weather.
“No wind. No ice. No rain. No snow. We got lucky,” said Brian Craft, director of the city’s public works department.
The 40 degree morning was a gift wrapped up in a bow, compared to last year’s icy weather that canceled the parade. The weather and wonder of the holiday parade resulted in thick crowds on the curbs along the route.
Joan Steinmiller, of Bowling Green, and her family got to the parade route nearly 90 minutes before start time, to stake out their spot on South Main Street. They came with their hot coffee and breakfast from McDonald’s.
This is a family tradition.
“I’m all decked out,” Steinmiller said, showing her sequined Santa sweater and her Santa slippers.
Dancers from The Beat perform in parade.
Down the street a bit was Thomas Gerschutz and his family.
“We come to support the community,” Gerschutz said.
His daughter, Sara Keith, bundled up her 4-year-old son, Oliver – expecting it to be colder.
“I have him doubled up in pants. I’m thinking it’s not that cold,” Keith said.
While the adults came for the community, many kids came for the confections.
Keith’s daughter Emma, 11, was prepared for the cornucopia of candy.
“She emptied her pockets for it,” Keith said. “And we have a bag for it. We’re ready.”
The mild temperatures were welcomed, not only by the spectators, but also by many of the parade participants.
Eastwood band marches in parade.
“This is a great day – a nice, crisp fall-like day,” said Eastwood band director Brian Myers as his band waited for the parade to begin.
Frigid temperatures can cause problems for marchers, he said.
“If it’s really cold, the brass mouthpieces can stick,” Myers said – reminiscent of the tongue frozen to the flagpole scene in “The Christmas Story.”
At a nearby float for Work Leads to Independence, Missy Toney was relieved at the relatively warm temperatures. She had encouraged those on the float to wear hats, gloves and long johns. She brought blankets and extra coats – just in case.
“It’s not raining. It’s not even snowing,” Toney said with a smile.
The twirlers with Twizzle Baton, from Maumee, wore gloves with rubbery grips to keep the batons from slipping out of their chilly hands. The girls, ages 3 to 18, bundled up appropriately for the parade route.
“There’s a lot of coordination with layers” of clothing, said Stephanie Wilson, one of the parents with the baton group.
Tammy Corpe, who was preparing to drive the parade route, was thankful there was no ice on the streets. She was driving a Porsche from BG Lincoln-Mercury for the WBGU Morning Show parade entry feature her husband, Clint Corpe, and Larry Weiss.
“Oh my God, it better not be stick. I haven’t driven a stick for 30 years,” Corpe said prior to seeing the Porsche.
The mayor and city council president ride in parade.
Some people watched from the comfort of coffee shops along the route, while others clutched warm cups on the curb. A group of enterprising young Boy Scouts walked the sidewalks selling hot chocolate from a wagon.
The annual parade, sponsored by the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce, included 75 entries and lasted nearly two hours. The parade was shown live on Channel 11, and can be viewed online on the WTOL website.
“We were thrilled to pieces,” with the parade, said Mary Hinkelman, director of the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce.
“People do love that we have a community parade,” she said. “I think it makes us stand out as a community.”
This year’s parade featured four marching bands – from Bowling Green, Eastwood, Otsego and Clay – playing some of the snappier holiday songs and wearing Santa hats, elf ears and antlers.
There were elected officials, police officers, firefighters, teachers and snowplow drivers.
‘Jurassic Library’ entry
There were dancers who performed fancy steps for the crowd, daring bicyclists who jumped over each other, and dinosaurs. Yes, dinosaurs. The Wood County District Public Library entry featured the “Jurassic Library” with several library staff donning T-Rex costumes for the parade.
Several dogs in the parade and along the sidelines tolerated their owners’ desire to deck them out in holiday costumes, big bows, or antlers.
The community joined in with parade entries from businesses like day care centers, dentist offices, nursing homes, restaurants, hair stylists, banks, manufacturers and the hospital.
There were groups encouraging green energy, international students, people with disabilities, diversity in the community, food pantries, churches and service clubs. There were antique tractors, a soccer team and the humane society.
And of course, there was an appearance by Santa Claus, bring up the rear of the parade.
Santa Claus rides into town.
By time the parade was over, the younger spectators had bags heavy with everything from candy and pencils, to bookmarks and stress balls.
Whatever was left behind – that’s the job of city crews to pick up, Craft said.
The crews started at 6:30 a.m. by putting up barricades along the parade route, and ended around noon with two street sweepers bringing up the end of the parade.
“They pick up all the candies left behind – or whatever the horses drop,” Craft said.
