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Spooky sights on Spring Street |
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Wednesday, 29 October 2008 |
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 Staff photos/Katie Yantis
Pirates, lions, SpongeBob and Dorothy all made appearances Tuesday night during the St. Marys Rotary Club’s Halloween Parade.
By KATIE YANTIS
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS — The cold weather didn’t stop the annual Rotary Halloween parade from being a frightening good time.
Around 300 participants showed up to walk the streets of St. Marys Tuesday night. They filled such categories as prettiest, animals, ugliest, witches and ghosts, wheelers, most original, cartoons/ TV/ movies, couples and funniest. Parents and children who dressed up began arriving at the Chestnut Street parking lot at 5 p.m. Tuesday and were judged on their costumes.
Everything from the Wizard of Oz crew to football players to matching condiments were seen in front of the library Tuesday. As time rolled around for the parade to start, the St. Marys High School Band, police and fire departments joined the lineup for the parade.
Families lined Spring Street to see their families, friends and neighbors dressed up for the annual event.
St. Marys resident Karen James was in attendance for the parade Tuesday night. James has been attending the Halloween parade for more than 36 years and had many of her 10 grandchildren in attendance with her.
“We just like the whole atmosphere, it gets us ready for trick-or-treat,” James said. “It’s just fun.”
Tracey Wilkins, mother of 4-year-old Mackenzy, agreed with James. Mackenzy, who participated as Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz trio, took first in the category.
“I like just having the kids out to walk and seeing everyone else’s costumes,” Wilkins said.
Many other parents withstood the frigid wind and cold temperature to walk with their children and see other costumes as well. Spectators on Spring Street saw everything from a gum ball machine costume to a hot dog, pirates and an elephant.
Other first place winners included: Funniest — Cody Mihm as a clown on a bike; Couples — Caleb Cassidy and Conner Rust as Dr. Evil and Mini me; Wheelers — Jacquline and Jarret Lunz as the Ohio state flower; Cartoons/ TV/ Movies — Ian Young and Riley Young as Willie Wonka oompa loompas; Witches and Ghosts — Juliana Mihm; Prettiest — Ella Glass as Princess Belle; Ugliest — Ally Moore; Animals — Cortney Mihm as a lion; Most Original — Ethan and Elly Wedding as a gum ball machine.
Halloween parade Chairman John Wale said he was pleased with the turnout considering the weather.
“I’m surprised with the weather, it went well,” Wale said. “It looks like we had about 300 participants, it was pretty good.”
Wale also mentioned he saw new and interesting costumes this year.
“Every year they are getting more and more creative,” Wale said. “Less store bought and more creativity.
Wale also praised all parties involved for another successful year.
“Things went well as it always does,” Wale said. “Everyone always shows up on que, some organizations we don’t even have to call, they see it in the paper and they just know to be here.” |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 04 November 2008 )
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