By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
The tiny baton twirlers were bundled up with care. The band members were warming their mouthpieces and fingertips. The judges were ready with their scoresheets. And the spectators were snug under their lap blankets.
As the countdown began Saturday morning for Bowling Green’s Annual Holiday Parade, the pieces were falling into place for the two-hour parade featuring nearly 100 entries, including eight area marching bands, dancers, baton corps, floats, businesses, community leaders, organizations and more.
On Liberty Street, Robert and Edith Snyder sat on their antique tractor as part of the Power of Yesteryear parade entry. Robert had rigged a golf cart seat with a safety belt for Edith, complete with a foot rest.
The pair, who have ridden in the parade for years, were perched high on the 1951 Oliver 77 tractor.
“This is actually my tractor,” Edith said proudly. “She won this in a raffle,” her husband said.
Is it worth the cold and long wait to be in the parade each year?
“We do it, so I guess so,” Robert said with a smile. “We’re prepared, we’ve got big sacks of candy.”
One street away, parade bay coordinator for West Evers Street, Allison Esposito had her chart in hand.
“Everything’s running smoothly this morning,” she said. “Everybody’s just waiting for the moment to release them” as the parade steps off.
The parade is an annual event for the Esposito family, with Allison and her husband, Greg, being joined by their children Gianna, Emilia and Dominic.
“It’s our tradition to do this,” Allison said. With temperatures nearing 40 degrees on Saturday, the volunteer work wasn’t painful. “There’s no wind, no snow, no rain. There’ve been some cold ones,” she said.
As parade time neared, the young members of the Black Swamp Riders youth mountain bike team were getting antsy. Adrian Fate, the team director, offered warmth through hot chocolate as they waited.
Down Main Street, enterprising members of Boy Scout Troop 419 were selling hot chocolate out of a wagon, at $2 a pop.
“Hot chocolate, get your hot chocolate,” John Fyfe shouted as his crew sought buyers. They didn’t have to wait long to be swamped by cold customers.
“We do it every year,” said John Fyfe, who said the troop uses the funds to pay for equipment. This year, they need new wheels for the troop trailer.
This parade, the boys added a twist of mini marshmallows, which seemed to be a hit. The marshmallows came with no extra cost – this year anyway.
“Next year, there might be a little inflation,” John said with a smile.
In the downtown area, where the sidewalks were thick with spectators, children waited with great expectation. A row of little girls sitting on the curb in front of the library spotted the flashing lights approaching from the north.
“Theeeeeeeeeyyyy’re coooooming,” the girls shrieked, with their goody bags poised for business.
Adults were also in the holiday mood.
“I like the Christmas spirit. I like the bands,” said Rhonda Maran, of Cygnet, who attends the parade every year. Even with a blanket tucked around her legs, she was not thrilled to be so chilled. “I’m freezing,” she said.
Further down Main Street, Kirk Eynon, of Bowling Green, was decked out with a turkey hat on his head.
“I’m in the spirit,” he said with a big grin. “I love seeing the kids running around, and the high school bands.” But his favorite parade entry was not a surprise. “You gotta say Santa.”
On the other side of South Main Street were Lee and Clara Hunter, of Bowling Green, also sporting turkey hats and eyeglasses – all the better for spotting treats tossed by parade participants.
Perhaps the best parade viewing venue seats were held by Bob and Robyn Moellenberg, who were lucky enough to get the last window seats at Juniper Brewing Co. on South Main Street.
Fueled by coffee, a croissant and Juniper toast, the couple sat in the cozy warmth of the restaurant as the parade passed by.
“This gets you in the spirit for the season,” Bob said.
The pair were waiting to see their grandson, who plays the mellophone in the Bowling Green High School marching band – which brings up the rear of the parade.
“We got lucky, didn’t we?” Robyn said of their perfect seats.
Rivaling those seats were the chairs for the parade judges set up at the downtown intersection of Main and Wooster streets. Performing entries stopped at the four corners to serenade with holiday songs, and stun with dancing and twirling skills.
“There’s a lot of great participants. It’s exciting,” said Matt Reger, one of the judges.
“It’s great to be front and center, to see all the performers,” judge Tari Christoff said.
The judges scrambled to score the entries in categories of creativity, theme, use of music, quality and costumes.
“Everybody has a chance,” said Reger, as he rubbed his hands together for warmth.
The largest holiday parade in Northwest Ohio – with nearly 100 entries and two hours of entertainment stepped off to the theme of “Holidays through the Decades.”
The annual feat was pulled off by the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce, 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, the BEAT Dance Company, Dairy Queen, Mosser Construction, and VFW Post 1148.
The parade was again broadcast on WTOL 11.
