It Was A Great Night For A Christmas Parade

It was a perfect night for a Christmas parade in downtown Tyler last Thursday night! Thousands of East Texans lined N. Broadway, around the T.B. Butler Square and the Smith County Courthouse to view holiday decorated floats and vehicles while being entertained by local marching bands. The parade featured all kinds of civic groups waving and wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, clowns, Shriner's on miniaturized go-karts, Jeeps decked out in holiday lights, marching bands from Tyler middle and high schools along with a couple of junior college marching bands. Civic leaders were riding high above on city fire trucks followed by walking groups handing out candy to kids along the parade route.

It wasn't all that cold this year either. The only big hiccup was the train that came through the northern part of downtown and cut off the parade exit, so the parade came to a halt for fifteen minutes or so, but that didn't bother the parade attendees because they were all sticking around to see Santa Claus arrive in downtown and to watch the lighting of the city's Christmas tree!