Published: November 28, 2008 11:02 pm      

Colorful evening

Spectators line Broadway for Light Up Logansport Parade

Bundled up with hats, gloves, winter jackets and blankets, thousands of spectators lined the streets in downtown Logansport to watch the eighth annual Light Up Logansport parade Friday evening.

Even members of the crowd got into the act as Diana Hershberger placed a string of Christmas lights around her grandchildren, 8-year-old Kayleigh Henry, 4-year-old Cassi Henry and 2-year-old Kyle Henry and 3-year-old Brayden Wynn.

Kelly Henry, father of three of the youngsters, said it was all part of the fun.

“We try to get in the scene a little bit to interact,” he said.

Wynn’s mother, Tina, wore a lighted hat that played music. She said the entire family had been coming to the parade since it first began.

Logansport resident Raymond Hartman was in the crowd for the third year with 13 of his family members. He said his favorite part was watching the reactions of his three young children.

“Their eyes are just wide open,” he said.

Once the parade was over, a panel of judges picked the prize winners. Mayor Mike Fincher gave his vote to the Bridges to Recovery float. He said the float consisted of a fireplace with smoke coming from the chimney and stockings hanging from the mantle.

“I thought they took a lot of time and effort to come up with the design,” he said. “I also thought it depicted the season.”

Lynne Ness, one of three judges for the Judge’s Award, said the decision was difficult.

“All the floats were wonderful,” she said. “We had so many choices this year.”

Over the years, she said, the floats seem to become more detailed. After discussion, the judges gave the nod to Small Parts’ Santa’s Toy Shop float.

“A lot of time, thought and effort went into that,” she said. “We were looking for creativity, and that float was it.”

The parade drew a total of 52 entries this year, about the same as a year ago. Organizers were predicting the parade would draw a crowd of about 10,000 spectators.

Denise Massie can be reached at (574) 732-5151 or via e-mail at denise.massie@pharostribune.com



Award winners

Judges’ Choice — Small Parts

Mayor’s Choice — Bridges to Recovery

Steering Committee Choice — Domestic Violence Task Force