Holiday Parade

Last evening was the annual Holiday Parade in downtown Harrisonburg.  In the weeks leading up to the parade, there was a big stink created by the media saying that the city had changed the name of the parade from the "Christmas Parade" to the "Holiday Parade."  Folks were saying that they were going to boycott the parade due to the change of name.  The irony of it all was that the name of the parade actually changed over 15 years ago, so I guess their boycott was 15 years too late.

At any rate, downtown was certainly full of plenty of folks who decided to be inclusive and participate in the holiday fun.  We saw them, all of them, while walking the parade route next to the EMS mini-bus.  The bus was decked out in lights and decorations, and even the driver was looking rather elfish.

Sophie rode the shuttle with other kids from EMES, and parents and older kids (including Hannah) walked alongside the mini-bus handing out Christmas pencils with Eastern Mennonite Elementary printed on them.  Unfortunately, we ran out of pencils before we made it even halfway through the parade route!

Hannah was a trooper, walking the entire way and then doubling back to the car, which was probably over two miles in all.  We had a great time on a balmy December evening and saw many friends along the way.