On Saturday, Nov. 26 downtown Milford was very busy. It was the annual Christmas Parade, which started at 10 a.m. The streets were packed with people, ranging from young infants in strollers to elderly residents. Children pulled their parents to the edge of the street for a better look at the beautiful floats going by. Participants in the parade smiled and waved while their audience cheered. The bands, surrounded by dancers, played Christmas music while marching through the streets. The whole town was decked out in holiday spirit.

“There is no official count of the total number of people that came to the Christmas Parade,” said Joell Beether, the Executive Director of Milford’s Chamber of Commerce Office. “But the streets were packed solid with people of all ages – families, couples, and individual residents. The turnout was spectacular! And the weather couldn’t have been better.”

The Christmas Parade is organized every year by the Chamber of Commerce office. The Chamber members have three main jobs: send out applications to businesses or people who were in the parade the previous year, write the script for the announcers (which tells the audience which float is coming next, and a little about the business or people that made the float), and line everybody up before the parade begins. “[The parade] is a lot easier to put on than an event such as Milford Memories,” said Beether.

Milford residents came downtown expecting a terrific parade, and they were not disappointed.

“The parade was great! I loved it!” said Kelley Kettenbeil, a Milford mom who watched the parade. “My son Ian was in the parade representing the Cub Scouts Pack 52.”

A variety of people and businesses were featured in the Christmas Parade, including the Girl Scouts, the Boy Scouts, marching bands, and the Milford robotics team. Smokey the Bear made a guest appearance, and, of course, Santa Claus and his dancers closed out the parade. Many businesses also save a spot in the parade to make their name known.

The parade is a great opportunity for businesses to advertise.

“Anyone who fills out an application may participate in the parade,” said Beether. “I wish more people would enter the parade and make floats in the future parades because everybody loves the exquisite floats.”

The marching bands in the Christmas parade were from Lakeland High School, Milford High School, and Oak Valley Middle School. The Milford marching band played and danced to the song Sleigh Ride. Blake Baareman, a sophomore in the MHS marching band, played the snare drum. This was his second year marching in the Christmas Parade. “My favorite part was being in the parade,” he said. “It’s cool to watch all the people watch you play.” The MHS marching band spent a lot of time preparing for this event. “We practiced and practiced and practiced. A lot!” said Baareman.

This year’s parade was unique because the first ever Gobbler Gallop race took place right before the parade. The Gobbler Gallop was a race throughout downtown Milford, reaching out all the way to the YMCA using the bike trail. There were two races residents could participate in – the one-mile race (which began at 8:30 a.m.) and the four-mile race (which began at 9 a.m.).

“A lot of people love to live in small towns because of the sense of community,” explained Beether. “I think most people go to the parade to participate in these community events. But the Gobbler Gallop really helped draw people to the parade this year.”

Another change to the Christmas Parade this year was the finale. Usually, Santa Claus ends the show alone, but this year he was surrounded by dancers and Christmas music. “My favorite part of the parade was Santa and the additional dancers,” Beether said. “I think they really gave the parade a strong finale.” Kettenbeil agrees that this new addition really added to the parade. “Besides seeing Ian in the parade, my favorite part was the fabulous dancers dancing to Christmas music!” she said.

Milford’s downtown Christmas parade was a great way to start out the holiday season. The weather cooperated, the floats were wonderful, and the streets were full of cheerful Milford residents. “I think there’s no better way to spread the holiday spirit than coming to watch or participate in the parade,” concluded Beether.