2008 Watkinsville Christmas Parade

Oconee Co High School Marching Band

Somehow I never did get around to posting the pictures from the Watkinsville Christmas Parade this year.

The morning starteed out cold and sunny and there was a lot of excitement along Barnett Shoals Road where everyone was lining up. The horses were unloading on the lawn at the Southwire plant and the tractors were reving up their engines along Industrial Drive. Many people were having coffee & breakfast at Miss Gail's restaurant where they could have a good view of the beginning of the parade. Just as the parade started at 11:00 a.m. the clouds began to roll in, but rain held off. I had a great vantage point at the corner of Barnett Shoals and Main Street. The crowd there kept inching out into the street as the parade went on as the children ran out to pick up candy that was thrown by nearly every entry.

There were a number of beautifully restored antique cars

There were at least a dozen antique tractors in the parade.

Bagpipers

Our friend Becky Finney, otherwise known as the American Pest Control mouse

The ESP float. Extra Special People is a local organization that has activities and summer camp for developmentally challenged children and adults founded by Martha Wylie.

Curbside trash services is owned by our friends Jesse & Jennifer Bond

Watkinsville City Councelman Brian Broderick was handing out candy to children.

One of the Volkswagon Club entries was this authentic circus car. Most of the VW's were restored, but this vintage one caught my eye. At some point in the parade, I'm told, the little dog jumped out and was rescued by another parade marcher!

Hale's Dairy, a multi-generational farm and I believe the only remaining one in Oconee County, had a float.

All of the boy and girl scouts in the county must have marched.

Sunshine Cycles, our local bike shop had a bunch of riders. Here is Howie, who keeps our bikes in good shape for us.

There were Belgian horses pullling a restored wagon

Even the senior citizens from Magnolia Estates enjoyed participating

The Oconee Co Middle School national award winning FFA led by OCMS Ag teacher Sandy Schemp marched

The North Oconee HS Marching Band played holiday songs

Every parade should have unicyclists!

Among the horse entries was a red hat ladY!

The Watkinsville parade always concludes with Santa riding the fire engine!

This year we had somewhere around a hundred entries and I wish that I could show them all! In Watkinsville, nearly everyone is either IN or AT the parade which makes it truly a community event. Afterwards a lot of people remained in town for the Artists Market at the local arts foundation or enjoyed shopping along Main St.