Christmas Parade brings warmth on cold night in Gentry

GENTRY — The air was cold and damp, just above freezing, and a biting wind was blowing on Saturday evening when the Gentry Christmas Parade made its way west on Main Street from Railroad Avenue to the park area. Spectators along the parade route were fewer in number than in years past (probably because of the cold), but the parade was filled with bright lights, music and many town residents.

Those lined up along Main Street were glad to hear the sirens and the Gentry High School marching band starting their trek down Main Street just a few minutes past six o’clock on Saturday evening. Those who had been hunkered up along store fronts to escape the cold wind moved to the edge of the street to greet the parade entries and gather up the pieces of candy tossed and passed out by those in the annual parade.

In addition to the band and emergency vehicles, the parade included floats by area businesses and churches, decorated cars, trucks, tractors, motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles and large numbers of equestrian units. There were several horse-drawn carriages and wagons, and three wise men led their camels down Main Street as well.

Though making the choices must have been difficult for the judges, the float of Arvest Bank received the best use of lights award. Bloomfield 4-H won in the theme category. Best music went to Outdoor Adventures 4-H Club. And, best overall went to Logan 4-H.

Photo by Randy Moll Santa greeted parade-goers from the bucket of a firetruck during the annual Gentry Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade on Saturday.

Photo by Randy Moll The float of Bloomfield 4-H depicted a number of Main Street businesses, along with a decorated Christmas tree, in the annual Gentry Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade on Saturday.

Photo by Randy Moll Ronald McDonald and other McDonalds’ mascots greeted spectators at the annual Gentry Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade on Saturday.

Photo by Randy Moll Wise men and their dromedaries (from the Wild Wilderness Safari) came from the east and down Main Street in the annual Gentry Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade on Saturday.

Photo by Randy Moll A number of motorcycles, decorated for the season, cruised by during the annual Gentry Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade on Saturday.

Photo by Randy Moll Employees of Arvest Bank rode on the bank’s float in the annual Gentry Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade on Saturday.

Photo by Randy Moll This well-lit covered wagon was a part of the annual Gentry Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade on Saturday.

Photo by Randy Moll A city truck carrying city employees and family members was decorated for the season during the annual Gentry Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade on Saturday.

Photo by Randy Moll A Little Debbie Zebra Cakes zebra made an appearance in the annual Gentry Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade on Saturday.

Photo by Randy Moll This antique truck donned special Christmas lights in the annual Gentry Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade on Saturday.