Ashland Holiday Parade Held November 21

by Ed Hutchinson

Ashland, VA - The Sunday before Thanksgiving, traditionally, is the day for the annual Ashland Holiday Parade, and this year was no exception. The largest holiday parade in the Heart of Virginia region, the event was planned, organized and managed by the Ashland Kiwanis Club for the Town of Ashland and all the citizens of Hanover County. With parade participants numbering 95 - 120 each year, Capital District Governor Tom Varner's home club has been the event's sponsor for decades. "The Holiday Parade is our Club's largest service project of the year," says Club Parade Committee Co-Chair Ranny Robertson, "with at least 35 members helping." This year's Parade Grand Marshalls were Hanover County's "greatest generation" WWII veterans. The parade began at 2:30 p.m., and the last unit (with Santa) began its trip along the route at 4:30 p.m.

"The Ashland Holiday Parade" is truly a Kiwanis Family event," comments Ranny Robertson, "with members of our sponsored Randolph Macon CKI, Lee-Davis Key Club and Patrick Henry Key Club carrying the parade banners and with our perfect attendance K-Kids and Aktion Club of Ashland members riding on floats. The weather was perfect for the parade participants as well as the 20,000+ parade watchers."