Christmas cheer in downtown Atlanta

Citizens get to enjoy their annual Christmas parade

In a year that has seen the cancellation of events and an ever-dwindling calendar, the town of Atlanta, Texas, went ahead with its Christmas parade. A longtime tradition, this festive flotilla was composed of more than 100 entrants of all kinds, from trucks decorated in colored lights to marching bands to classic cars and even a giant shopping cart with a waving Santa sending forth bundles of goodies.

The Christmas parade in Atlanta is a decades-long tradition, with one citizen remarking it has been a town staple in her 55 years of living there. Others, including members of the local police force, had similar stories.

“I’ve been in this town my whole life,” said Dennis Quinn of the Atlanta Police Department. “Twenty-nine years on the force. This year’s is one of the biggest parades I’ve been to, including compared to the one they usually have in Texarkana.”

As the floats cruised past and delighted children snatched up candy and gifts thrown to them, the parade made its way past the downtown businesses decked out in boughs of holly and lights, setting the tone of this year’s parade, “Merry Christmas, y’all, Texasstyle.”

“I come to the parade every year,” said Madison Clayton, 19. “This year’s is way better, lots more stuff going on. It is great we still got to do ours.”

“This year’s is way better, lots more stuff going on. It is great we still got to do ours.”

— Madison Clayton, 19

Texarkana had to cancel theirs this year, and that news did still seem to be on the minds of some.

Madison’s sister Victoria, 14, agreed.

“Really good, all the lights and floats,” she said. “I’m glad, too. We did lose lots of other events to cancellation this year.”

Michael Parson, 41, is a relatively new residents of Atlanta, having moved here from Dallas several months ago. He sees the parade as a sign of a well-managed town.

“They handle their business here,” he said. “This town knows how to run things right. The parade shows the power and money in this city. But this is also a city that loves God, has faith in God and they will tell you about it. It shows.”

Staff photo by Neil Abeles ■ More than 100 parade floats delighted the citizens lining the streets of downtown Atlanta, Texas. The floats were sponsored by businesses, civic organizations and local clubs, where big trucks, classic cars and more spread Christmas cheer.

Photos by Neil Abeles (top) and Junius Stone (left) ■ Floats in Atlanta’s Christmas parade showed the town’s creativity.