Jim Fair
What can be better than waving to Santa Claus and enjoying cotton candy during a parade?
Jim Fair
Cast members of the Greer Children's Theatre Lion King Jr. attended the parade.
Jim Fair
The sirens from fire engines appealed to some, while others found the noise a little too much.
Jim Fair
Larry Wilson, former chairman of the Partnership for Tomorrow, and his wife, Linda, were grand marshals at the Greer Christmas Parade.
“We had perfect weather, people came out early which was great, we had a larger group (92) of entries and Santa was feeling good this year speaking and walking with the crowd, Caroline Robertson, Executive Director of Greer Relief, and the organizing non-profit for the third consecutive year.
There were many areas along the parade route – Clock restaurant to J. Harley Bonds that had people sitting and standing four to six deep, and more as the parade came upon intersections and buildings that had steps. The fire department used its balcony for families to view the parade and Greer First Baptist’s step were full at every level reach the entry to the sanctuary from Poinsett Street.
Lonnie “Gee” McGee came back from his new residence in Clinton to take his usual position leading Greer High School Marching Band. There were cheers throughout the parade route of “Gee, Gee, Gee.”
“Having “Gee” here made us feel so much better,” Robertson said. “He made it right. He was so exuberating, more than he’s been in the past. My biggest concern was when he moved to Clinton he wouldn’t be able to make the parade. I am so glad it worked out.”
Larry and Linda Wilson were the grand marshals.
Logistically, Robertson said Kyndra Kemp continued to be the parade’s key organizer. “Kyndra knows how the parade works and what goes into organizing it,” Robertson said.
Kemp worked her 14th Greer parade on Sunday, 11 of the previous years was with the Jaycees. “She’s the backbone of this parade,” Robertson said.
Robertson said enlisting the Reserves from the Donaldson Center, moving registration to the day before Thanksgiving, simply adding five steps and having participating vehicle clubs, like the Mustangs Club, driving celebrities helped “shorten” the parade.
“For starters the Reserves made this a dream come true,” Robertson said. “These were officers and their level of expertise and organization was invaluable.”
The parade offered entertainment throughout with roller skaters, for the first time performing, dance groups and tumblers, with a mat, showing some of their skills.
