Annual Christmas parade draws hundreds to downtown Florence

With temperatures in the mid 40's at the start of the parade, Leranda Severance and Lona Beck, both members of Kelley's Fine Arts huddle under a blanket to keep warm before the start of the parade.

By: | SCNow
Published: December 19, 2009

Downtown Florence was filled with Christmas spirit Saturday morning as the annual Christmas parade delighted the hundreds of people who lined Evans Street.

Fifty-seven entries made for an entertaining event. The Wilson High School Marching Band and girls from Kelly’s Fine Arts performed for the crowd as Miss Florence Bree Boyce and Mickey and Minnie Mouse threw candy to the children. Even a zebra and a camel walked the parade route, courtesy of Andy’s Animal Farm.

Laurie Guinn, her husband and two children were decked out in Santa hats and bundled under blankets. They try to make it to the parade every year.

“The best thing about it is the kids, the excitement, the whole feeling of it,” she said. “It’s about the whole spirit of the community coming out to support Florence.”

Hundreds of others braved the 40-degree temperatures, but Chairperson of the Florence Christmas Parade Committee Linda Becote said Friday’s stormy weather kept some people away.

But with the rain ending overnight, she said overall the parade was a huge success.

“We look forward to this day every year,” Becote said. “The people really enjoy the parade and I do too. I know I have since I was a little girl.”

In her sixth year as the head of the parade, Becote and the six other committee members named winners in six categories. Best overall went to the Florence County Disability and Special Needs board and best dance performance was awarded to the performers from Kelly’s Fine Arts.

Best entertainment went to Omar Imps and his trick car bouncing and swerving all over the road. The best float was given to Southern Calvary Baptist, while the most original float went the ladies of the Florence Tea Party. Rounding out the winners was the Greenwood Elementary entry for most creative.

With plans for expanding the parade next year into an all-out festival, Becote has her hands full. But with Christmas only a few days away she said the only thing on her mind is the holiday spirit.

“This is what starts Christmas for me,” Becote said.