ASHTABULA — Hundreds of children forgot the cold and the long wait along Main Avenue Friday night as they gave a joyful welcome to Santa Claus on the jolly gentlemen's first visit of the season to Ashtabula.
"Santa Claus is coming, Santa is coming," said Xavier Gildersleeve, 3, of Ashtabula, as the city's annual Christmas parade started exactly at 7 p.m. with Ashtabula Police Capt. Gerald Cornelius riding the department's Harley Davidson motorcycle.
The Ashtabula Fire Department's trucks followed, including the big, shiny, ladder truck decorated with white lights, and inside, Vice President of City Council Betty Kist waved to the crowd.
Kist later said she couldn't get over how many people turned out for the parade. People bundled up in winter coats crowded downtown Ashtabula for as far as the eye could see, she said.
"It's wonderful to see so many people downtown," Kist said.
The City of Ashtabula, the Ashtabula Downtown Development Association and the Ashtabula Area Chamber of Commerce sponsored the parade. The Ashtabula Senior Center held an open house for parade-goers, with food and hot drinks.
Joey Merlene, 7, of Conneaut, liked the parade, especially watching his sister, Hanna, perform in the Wildfire dance team, he said.
Several floats entered the parade, with ABC Childcare's float drawing a lot of attention for its artificial snow and a first place finish, according to the parade.
The Ashtabula Senior Center's "senior citizens' won cheers from the crowd, dancing to "Jingle Bell Rock," with walkers in hand. It garnished a third place in the parade, while Cub Scout Pack 52 of Saybrook with the float “A Christmas Story” came in second, according to Caro Ogren, president of the Ashtabula Downtown Development Association.
Alicia and Tim McFarland's mastiff pulled a wagon carrying newly elected Ashtabula Area School Board member, Christine Seuffert's dachsands in the Walking in a Wiener Wonderland group.
Allie Deist, 8, of Madison, said she liked watching the baton twirlers and dance teams the best. She was surprised at the length of the parade, she said.
"Where's Santa?" she said.
Three-year-old Alexis Patton and her family waited to wave at Santa, too, but she kept a firm grip on the candy several parade participants already had thrown at her.
Santa arrived, as promised, along with the Lakeside High School Marching Band. The crowd cheered and many folks said it was the largest turnout for a parade that they could ever remember.
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