Sunny Skies Greet Bath Revelers During Annual Christmas Parade

Hot Springs, Va – With the magnificent Homestead resort as a backdrop, the Bath County marching band led a Christmas parade through the streets of Hot Springs on a bright, but brisk, Saturday afternoon. The procession included gaudy floats, classic vehicles, pretty pageant winners,noisy fire trucks, beautiful horses and a variety of other brightly decorated conveyances and people.

County tourism director Maggie Anderson says the parade reflects the goodness of the community.

“You know, we just enjoyed a wonderful parade here,” she said. “About an hour long. We celebrated the volunteer fire departments that are here. We saw lots of lovely floats. We saw some music. We saw lots of folks in the community and it just reminds us what a great place we live in. If you’re visiting here, we’re glad that you’re with us. If you live here, come down and enjoy what we have in Bath County. It’s the best place to live.”

Following the parade , hundreds of children and parents attended a Christmas party at Valley Elementary School. Bath County Parks and Recreation hosted the party, where children visited with Santa Claus and received a gift from elves in Santa’s workshop.

Parks and Recreation employee Luanda Riley was working as an elf in Santa’s workshop, where an entire corner of the school gym was filled with toys. Riley says the gifts didn’t come from the North Pole.

“All of these toys came from Roanoke Toys For Tots, but we got some from Clifton from the Marines in Roanoke” she said. “We actually raised money when we done our football games. We done the concessions and we raised almost $3,000. So, we divided the money up between the Lexington Marines Toys For Tots and the Roanoke Marines Toys For Tots and we give them money and they went shopping for toys.”

Children, waiting in line to see Santa Claus, say they love being with their families during the Christmas season.

Q: Young man, what’s your name?

“Hezekiah.”

Q: How old are you?

“Seven.”

Q: Do you like Christmastime?

“Yes, because you get presents and you give presents to people. “

Q: Young lady, what’s your name?

“Hyley.”

Q: How old are you?

“Nine.”

Q: Do you like Christmastime?

“Yes! Because it’s Jesus’ birthday, plus, you get presents.”

Q: Is there anything else you like about Christmas?

“Yes, being with friends and family.”

Q: Young lady, what’s your name?

“Alanna.”

Q: Do you like Christmastime?

“Yes, because I like sharing with people and giving things to people.

Q: Is there anything else you like about Christmas?

“I like being with family and friends.”

A panel of judges awarded trophies during the Christmas parade. The winners follow.

WINNERS IN THE HOT SPRINGS CHRISTMAS PARADE:

BEST OVER ALL – NEATHAWK LUMBER- BILL SELDOMRIDGE
BEST IN SHOW OF CHRISTMAS SPIRIT 1ST PLACE- CHEESE CLAUS
BEST SHOW OF CHRISTMAS SPIRIT 2ND PLACE- MEMORY OF JAMES MCCOMB
BEST APPEARING HIGH SCHOOL BAND- BATH COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL BAND
FIRST PLACE FIRE TRUCK PLAIN – BURNSVILLE FIRE DEPT
SECOND PLACE FIRE TRUCK PLAIN- FALLING SPRINGS-FIRE DEPT.
DECORATED FIRE TRUCK 1ST PLACE- SHARON FIRE DEPT.
DECORATED FIRE TRUCK 2ND PLACE – BOLAR FIRE DEPT.
BEST APPEARING FIRE TRUCK – MILLBORO FIRE DEPT.
LONGEST TRAVELED FIRE TRUCK-IRON GATE FIRE DEPT.
DECORATED FLOAT 1ST PLACE- FIRST & CITIZENS BANK MISS SHIFFLET
DECORATED FLOAT 2ND PLACE- CHRISTMAS MOTHER ANGIE KEYSER
PLAIN FLOAT 1ST PLACE- STATE CHAMPIONS GIRLS BALL TEAM JAY FORD FLOAT
PLAIN FLOAT 2ND PLACE-WCHG 107.1 D.J.WILLIE
GENTILEST HORSE 1ST PLACE- MEMORY OF KENNY PRITT,KAYLEN PRITT- RIDER
GENTILEST HORSE 2ND PLACE-DESIREE UTLEY- RIDER
BEST APPEARING FARM TRACTOR 1ST PLACE -LEE FRY
BEST APPEARING FARM TRACTOR 2ND PLACE-TOM PLECKER
4 WHEELERS 1ST PLACE- KAYLA LINDSAY
4 WHEELERS 2ND PLACE ALAN ADKINS
MOTORCYLES 1ST PLACE-CART FLOAT RONNIE DUNNAGAN
MOTORCYLE 2ND PLACE- ALY DURRETT
NOVELTY ENTRY 1ST PLACE-ROGER THOMPSON 23 ROADSTER
NOVELTY 2ND PLACE- TIM SEAMAN VEHICLE WITH TRAILER
NOVELTY 3RD PLACE- CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH FLOAT
MARCHING GROUP 1ST PLACE- PAT HAYNES WITH PUPPIES
MARCHING GROUP 2ND PLACE-LITTLE MISS/MASTER HIGHLAND COUNTY FLOAT
MOST COMICAL IN PARADE- BIG AL BIG COUNTRY 101 RADIO
ANTIQUE VEHICLE 1ST PLACE- LOU PLECKER CHEV BEL-AIR
ANTIQUE VEHICLE 2ND PLACE -D.R. AND JEAN SARVER 1937 CHEVY
CLASSIC TRUCK 1ST PLACE- JAY FORD WRECKER BATH COUNTY COLLISION
CLASSIC TRUCK-U.P.S. (STACY)
PLAIN TRUCK-GLENN’S GARAGE 90 CHEVY TRUCK
CLASSIC CAR 1ST PLACE-RICKY MCLAUGHLIN
CLASSIC CAR 2ND PLACE- DENNY PENCE
DECORATED RESCUE SQUAD- MILLBORO RESCUE
PLAIN RESCUE SQUAD- BATH CO. AMBULANCE SERVICE
RESCUE SQUAD 1ST PLACE -FALLING SPRINGS RESCUE