Perrysburg youth enjoy Home for the Holidays parade

People pack sidewalks filled for historic downtown event

Aubrey Hill of Perrysburg stays warm with hot chocolate as she waits for the Home for the Holidays parade to begin Sunday in downtown Perrysburg.

THE BLADE/REBECCA CONKLIN KLEIBOEMER
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R.J. Otto, 8, of Perrysburg wears an elf hat Sunday as he watches his hometown's parade.

The sidewalks of Perrysburg's historic downtown are dotted with crushed peppermint, but earlier today they were filled with folks who had come to watch the city's Home for the Holidays parade.

Aubrey Hill, 9, likely didn't let any goodies that came her way hit the ground as she watched her hometown's parade. Without a moment's hesitation, she'll tell you her favorite part: "Candy!"

PHOTO GALLERY: Home for the Holidays parade

Aubrey Hill of Perrysburg stays warm with hot chocolate as she waits for the Home for the Holidays parade to begin Sunday in downtown Perrysburg.

Such sweets did indeed pass from parade marchers to parade watchers, and sponsor Downtown Perrysburg Inc. passed out free hot chocolate as the floats and fire trucks and marching band made their way down Louisiana Avenue late in the afternoon.

Afterward, hopped up on the sugar, children ran up and down the hill at Hood Park as they waited for the tall evergreen covered in lights to be illuminated.

Youth in the Perrysburg Musical Theatre Junior Jazzers treated the crowd to song-and-dance numbers, crooning, "We need a little Christmas, right this very minute ..." as city workers prepared the switches.

The weather was more favorable for the event this year, Mayor Nelson Evans said.

"Last year it was pouring rain, so we just lit the tree and went home," he said.