Christmas Parade brings all the holiday cheer
Christmas time in Starkville has finally arrived.
The Starkville Christmas Parade made its return on Monday night following a 2020 hiatus due to the pandemic, and the whole community and their families gathered together as they got into the spirit for the most wonderful time of the year.
On Monday night, Main Street saw creative floats, local marching bands and cheerleaders, fire engines, police cars, Mississippi State Head Baseball Coach Chris Lemonis as the parade’s grand marshal along with the staff of the national championship team, and of course, Starkville’s very own Santa Claus Mike Goree, who has donned the red jacket trimmed with white fur since 1986.
David Houston, who has lived in Starkville since 2010, gave his initial reaction following the parade, and he said that last year’s absence made him forget how “magical” it is.
“It was a lot more fun that I had remembered,” said Houston. “Some of the floats were really impressive, like the big tractor that was decorated to look like Rudolph the Red-nose Reindeer, I thought that was pretty cool.”
MSU vet student Kaylynn Cantrell and a group of friends brought their dogs out to see all the holly jolly floats move along Main Street.
“We actually got here a little late, but it was exciting to come out and bring our dogs to see all the floats go by [Monday night]. We didn’t get to come to ones in the past, so it was really nice to come out and see all the cool floats going into Christmas time,” said Cantrell. “I feel like the parade brings people out and about because we had such a hard year with COVID. Having people to come out and see other people, lining up across the street under the pretty Christmas lights and getting to see all the participation is what makes this parade so special.”
Cantrell said her favorite float was the very last one – Mike Goree as Santa Claus with his magical reindeer and his one-horse open sleigh.
“The Santa float was definitely my favorite float. They did a really good job with the reindeer going up, and [Goree] looked very much like Santa,” Cantrell said.
Cantrell added that it means a lot to see all the hard work that parade participants put into their floats, their cheers, and their musical performances, especially after last year’s absence.
“I know when I was kid, it meant a lot to me to be able to be in parades,” said Cantrell. “So, I’m sure that the kids that didn’t get to do it last year, it probably means a lot to them this year to be back here, and it means a lot to us to be able to see the participation.”
Like many other people, Christmas is MSU student Brady Hunt’s favorite time of the year, and Monday night’s parade was “very special” for him to witness after not having the chance to last year.
“Christmas is definitely my favorite holiday, so it was just really special to have it back and see all the people who came out and participated in it. It was awesome, for sure,” Hunt said.
Hunt added that his favorite float from Monday night’s parade was the one with Smokey the Bear.