Area processions focal points of community pride

 

Christmas parades will soon be rolling through the Tri-State, officially kicking off the holiday season Tuesday.

The Ashland, Ky., Christmas Parade is Tuesday at 7 p.m.

The parade route is Carter Avenue west to 14th Street, after a turn onto Winchester Avenue the procession continues east on Winchester to 22nd Street. This year’s grand marshal is Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Ernie West. This year the South Point High School Marching Band of Gold will lead the procession.

“We have 140 entries, not including the Shriners, the bands, the ROTC and the people in Division 1,” Paula Mayo, Winter Wonderland of Lights coordinator said. The parade, like the holiday display, is sponsored by the Ashland Alliance.

The Ironton Christmas Parade is 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 28. It is sponsored by the Ironton Lions Club. Organizer Lou Pyles said the parade draws a crowd and participants from not only Ironton and Lawrence County, but the entire Tri-State. But regardless of its regional appeal, it still maintains that small town charm that brings people back year after year.

“I just like the happiness it brings to Lawrence County. You see families there. Everybody has a good time,” she said.

The parade route begins at Second and Railroad streets, down Second Street to Washington Street, Washington to Third Street and Third Street to the Center Street fountain.

Although there is no parade, per se, Chesapeake residents will celebrate Christmas with the village tree lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1 at Triangle Park. School groups will sing and the village Christmas tree will be lit.

The Russell, Ky., Christmas Parade is 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1. The grand marshal this year is Circuit Judge Robert Conley, who serves Greenup and Lewis counties. The parade is sponsored by the city of Russell.

The Huntington, W.Va., Christmas Parade is also 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1. It is sponsored by Moses Auto Mall.

The Coal Grove Christmas Parade is 6 p.m. Dec. 2. It is sponsored by the Coal Grove Betterment Club.

Betterment club member Carol Gool said the parade route is from the Coal Grove fire station to Paul Porter Park, where everyone finds cookies and hot cocoa waiting after the parade.

With a hot drink in hand, families can peruse the light display in the park. Gool said the village may be small and the betterment club even smaller, but what it lacks in size it more than makes up for in can-do attitude.

“I’m so proud of what a few people can do,” she said.