Many enjoy Santa’s Holiday Parade

Cresco - This year Santa’s Holiday Parade celebrated its 36th anniversary of ringing in the Christmas season on the day after Thanksgiving.

The day — Black Friday —almost lived up to its name. Almost. It was cold and rainy and dreary and gray . . . but the excitement of the kids and crowd made up for the blustery weather.

Over 20 entries participated including Cresco Police Department; American Legion/VFW/Legion Riders; RHSHC Ambulance; Cresco Fire Department; Grand Marshals — Wilmer and Loraine Hubka; The Cresco Shopper; Cresco Bank & Trust (with the theme of “Peter Rabbit Movie;” Accura HealthCare of Cresco (Happy 90th Birthday Mickey Mouse and others); Cresco Girl Scouts; CUSB Bank and Quam’s Auto Salvage (The Grinch); Little Miss Cresco — Emma Drees; Howard County Fair Board (Old McDonald’s Farm); Howard County Fair Queen — Hope Dohlman  and Howard County Fair Princess — Karissa Stika; Ox & Wren Spirits & Gifts and A&J’s Construction (Santa’s Helpers); A&W/Long John Silvers and H&S Motors (Rooty Bear & H&S vehicle); The Hair Company (Whoville); Just For Kix; Reicks View Farms; Driftrunners; Atomic Pizza; Howard County Historical Society; and Santa & Mrs.Claus.

Santa showed he isn’t the jealous type. He chose Cresco Bank & Trust’s Peter Rabbit theme as his top pick.

The Youth-Teen pick was CUSB Bank and Quam’s Auto Salvage’s “The Grinch,” with Teddy (a.k.a. Max) leading the charge!

The Grand Marshals (Wilmer and Loraine Hubka) chose Accura HealthCare’s Happy 90th Birthday Mickey Mouse.

After the parade, a good group of individuals stuck around for the Just For Kix performance, lighting of the courthouse lawn and learning the first 10 winners of the Jingle in Your Pocket promotion, sponsored by Cresco Chamber of Commerce, Cresco Bank & Trust and CUSB Bank.

Each person won $100 in Cresco Bucks. They included Vicki McGee — Plantpeddler; Dave Armstrong — Fisk Farm & Home; Carol A. Foley — Quilter’s Garden; Marla Liddle — Quilter’s Garden; Missy Beach — 2 Chicks in a Barn/Furniture Re-do; Mark Murphy — Fisk Farm & Home; Amanda Gerber — A&W/Long John Silvers; Mae Davis — Leuthold’s; Terri Drew — 2 Chicks in a Barn/Furniture Re-do; and Kris Klennert — Fisk Farm & Home.

There will be three more drawings for a grand total of $4,000 in give-aways!