Christmas parade draws crowd

Santa hats and yuletide spirit filled the busy streets of downtown Marianna Saturday, as the annual Winterfest and Christmas Parade was held.
The cold day started with Winterfest from noon to about 4:30 p.m. and followed with the One-Mile Jingle Fun Run and Christmas Parade at 5.
This year’s parade grand marshal, Jeff Mathis made appearances throughout the day, and rode with family members down Main Street during the parade. Mathis is an alumnus of Marianna High School and is now catcher for the Los Angeles Angels.
Despite the chilly weather, a number of families made it downtown to enjoy the Winterfest festivities on Market and Green streets, which were closed to traffic for most of the day.
Winterfest attracted residents from all over Jackson County. A couple from Greenwood strolled hand-in-hand along Market Street bopping to the Christmas music and admiring the vendors lining the streets.
“I’ve been coming to this parade forever,” Marianna resident Margena Myrick said. “Born and raised, this is my town, I love this town.”
Food stands sold many things to keep people warm; cups of chili, hamburgers, hotdogs, funnel cakes, or even ribs from AJ’s Rib Crib, were among the most popular.
Some stands were also offering the much-needed hot cocoa and coffee.
Local organizations and vendors also took advantage of the festival by setting up booths to sell their specialities to visitors. Fresh wreaths, homemade jewelry, pottery and candles were among some of the items for sale.
Women gathered and pushed their way into the Main Street Marianna tent, which was giving away complimentary wrapping paper, stockings and other Christmas knick-knacks donated by Wal-Mart to the City of Marianna.
The Main Street Marianna booth was also selling baseballs autographed by Mathis.
Over in the kids corner, there was a slightly disappointing turnout for the bounce house, and tents filled with snow mounds, as few children gathered at each play station.
As the day progressed, more bundled-up visitors appeared. Main Street was lined with families in blankets or wrapped in their winter gear, eagerly awaiting the parade.
Die-hard sports fans who refused to miss the big SEC Championship were circled around truck beds watching the game.
This year, a One-Mile Jingle Fun Run down U.S. Highway 90 kicked off around 4:45 p.m., just before the parade.
“This year we have about 30 participants in the run. I think it will be a fun way to start the parade,” Main Street Marianna Executive Director Charlotte Brunner said.
Pre-registered runners paid $10 and all others paid $15. Prizes were awarded to the top male and female finishers, and also to the best decorated pet and stroller.
Following the Jingle Fun Run was the much anticipated Christmas Parade.
Children’s faces lit up as Christmas floats and familiar faces passed by. The fun began at Daniels Street and ended at Madison Street.
But as always, the biggest crowd pleaser was the one and only Santa Claus, who ended the parade riding a Marianna fire truck.