Cheering crowd greets return of parade in Johnstown

JOHNSTOWN - On?Main?Street, a cheering crowd - especially children eager for candy - greeted the return of the Classic Image Johnstown Holiday Parade Friday night.

As the five-divisions in the 10th annual parade followed their route in the city, bringing all of the noise one expects with a parade, they were enthusiastically welcomed by the hundreds of people lined up along West and East Main streets. Children in the crowd rushed for candy tossed from parade participants and floats.

As has been the case for a decade, the chill in the air did not keep the crowds away.

Article Photos

Santa Claus makes his appearance during the Classic Image Johnstown Holiday Parade on Friday along Main Street in Johnstown.
The Leader-Herald/Bill Trojan

Johnstown High School band member Josh Scarpa plays saxophone on a float with other band members during the parade.
The Leader-Herald/Bill Trojan

Destiny Cioffi, 11, of Glen and Nadia Kristy
Mabbett, 2, of Johnstown watch as the parade passes by.
The Leader-Herald/Bill Trojan

John White, the grand marshal of the Classic Image Johnstown?Holiday?Parade this year, waves to the crowd during the event in Johnstown on?Friday night. Andrea White, his wife, sits next to him.
The Leader-Herald/Bill Trojan

Dana Wakefield, of Broadalbin, thought the cold weather wasn't that bad.

"Its OK. There is no wind," she said, her children Matty and Ally playing.

Kathie Allen, of Fonda, was bundled up for the weather. She and her husband, Richard, both try and come anytime they can.

Their son, while part of the Fonda-Fultonville Central School's Marching Band, would play as part of the parade yearly. Though he graduated, they still come.

"Looks like they did a great job, it is a great turnout," Allen said.

The parade's theme this year was "Charlie Brown & Friends and Winter Wonderland." There were floats portraying Charlie Brown and his dog, Snoopy, many showing the beloved character sleeping on top of his dog house or fighting the "Red Baron."

Nicole Williams, who came with her husband and her two children, said she never came to the parade before, but she tries to come to all the local events.

"Not everyone gets Veterans Day off though," she joked.

Linda Gilbert, of Caroga Lake, made a night of the event, taking her niece and her friend with her to eat and browse the shops.

"It's an annual tradition," Gilbert said. "It is supporting the community."

People brought dry food goods to donate to help victims of Superstorm Sandy.

Karen Coppola, the parade's chief organizer, said she plans to organize the event again next year, but donations have been harder to come by.

Source: http://www.leaderherald.com/page/content.detail/id/551845.html

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