Toledo parade to feature bands, floats, Santa Claus

11/18/2005

Toledo's annual holiday parade next week will include floats, bands, horses, and clowns.

The event will take place at 11 a.m. Nov. 26, stepping off from Jefferson Avenue and Summit Street. Marchers will head north on Summit to Jackson Street, west on Jackson to Superior Street, then south on Superior to its finish at Monroe Street.

The 90-minute parade will consist of more than 60 components, with at least eight marching bands, several equestrian units, and a "Distinguished Clown Corps" of dozens of candy-tossing benefactors.

"And of course, Santa Claus," said Larry Boyer, board chairman of CitiFest, which is sponsoring the parade. "We think this could be our biggest ever."

For a time, it seemed the parade would be a toned-down affair. In late October, organizers still had no title sponsor and only 20 parade units signed up. But the city provided a $35,000 infusion.

There'll be a Breakfast with Santa from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Nov. 26 at the Erie Street Market. Proceeds from the $2 pancake breakfast will go to the Epilepsy Center of Northwest Ohio.

Other upcoming holiday events in the area include:

●Archbold will hold its annual Parade of Lights from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Nov. 25. It will feature more than 50 units, including trucks, tractors, bands, and cars along Defiance Street in downtown Archbold. Parade units will sparkle with hundreds of lights. The event marks the opening of the Festival of Lights with 40 lighted displays throughout Ruihley Park.

●Bellevue will hold a parade at 6 p.m. Nov. 29 at Bellevue Junior High School.

●Bowling Green's 18th annual holiday parade, "Holiday Dreams," begins at 10 a.m. tomorrow downtown. Main Street will be closed between Poe and Napoleon roads from 9:50 a.m. until the parade ends.

Only local traffic will be permitted on side streets from Poe to Ridge Street from 9 to 11 a.m. because those streets will be used for parade preparations. Wooster Street will be closed between Prospect and Clough beginning at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow until the parade ends.

Parking will be prohibited on Main between Poe and Napoleon roads during the parade. Vehicles parked on Main after 3 a.m. tomorrow will be towed at the owner's expense.

●Bryan will hold its Christmas parade at 7 p.m. Nov. 25.

●Clyde will hold a parade at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, at South Main Elementary School, followed by a tree-lighting at the City Building.

●Delta will hold its Christmas parade at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 3, followed by lunch with Santa at Memorial Hall on Main Street in downtown Delta.

●Elmore will hold its third annual Holiday Express at 6 p.m. Dec. 3 downtown. Santa will arrive at the Harris-Elmore Public Library by fire truck to light the community Christmas tree. After the tree lighting, children can have their pictures taken with Santa and can listen to a holiday story by Mrs. Claus.

●Fostoria's parade will start at 5 p.m. Nov. 27 at Perry and Main streets, followed by a tree lighting at the City Building.

●Fremont will hold a parade at 4 p.m. Nov. 26 at Birchard Park.

●Hicksville will hold its parade at noon Dec. 3.

●Lyons will hold its parade at 1 p.m. Dec. 10. It starts at the Lyons Community Park and ends at the fire hall, where Santa will visit with youngsters.

●Maumee's "Holiday Light Parade" will start at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 25 on Ford Street and end at the Maumee Indoor Theater for a tree lighting and visit with Santa.

●Metamora will hold its Holiday Lighted Parade and Tree Lighting event at 6 p.m. Dec. 4. The parade will wind through the downtown area. Refreshments will be served, and Santa will be on hand. Lighting of the village Christmas tree will be near the village office and will follow the parade. Activities include pictures with Santa and covered-wagon rides.

●Napoleon will hold a parade at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 29.

●Norwalk will hold its Main Street holiday parade at 3 p.m. Dec. 3. It starts at Main Street School. Activities for the day include a holiday market, and the Christmas tree lighting at 6 p.m. in Bresson Park.

●Ottawa will hold its holiday parade at 2 p.m. Nov. 27. It starts at the Ss. Peter and Paul parking lot at Fourth Street, and goes down Main Street to Ottawa Park. The town will have activities and music there after the parade.

●Perrysburg's "Home for the Holidays" parade begins at 2 p.m. Nov. 27 at Toth Elementary School followed by a 5 p.m. tree lighting in Hood Park.

●Port Clinton will hold a tree-lighting ceremony at 6:45 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Adams Street Park.

●Sandusky will have a tree-lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. Nov. 25 in Washington Park.

●Swanton will hold its Miracle on Main Street holiday parade at 10 a.m. Dec. 3 as part of the annual Christmas in Swanton event that will include a holiday craft show, live reindeer, dog sled demonstrations, horse-drawn wagon rides, and a model train display during the day at Swanton High School.

●Sylvania will have its Holiday Happenings from 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 3 on Main Street downtown. Santa will arrive at 5:30.

●Tiffin will hold a parade at 11 a.m. Dec. 3 that starts at St. Joseph Church on South Washington Street.

●Wauseon will hold its parade at 4 p.m. Nov. 26.

●Willard will hold its holiday parade begins at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Willard High School and ends downtown.