Visions of sugarplums danced in their heads at annual New Philadelphia Christmas Parade
by Jennifer Kneuss
December 6, 2010
317
Chilling temperatures did nothing to hamper the enthusiasm of children of all ages who came out to line the route along North Broadway and West Third Street in downtown New Philadelphia on December 3. The spirit of Christmas was high as once again, the enticement of the annual Christmas parade lured people to put on layers of coats, scarves, and mittens, wrap in heavy blankets, and choose a post along the parade route to enjoy the nighttime spectacle.
Such was the case for sisters Paige and Patricia Neininger, who were bundled up so that at times, only their eyes peered out beneath their heavy coverings. The girls were huddled in folding chairs, and swathed in blankets provided by their parents, Renita and Tim Neininger, of Holmes County. The girls grandparents were waiting in a warm car nearby until the actual parade began.
I like to sit and watch, but Im just here to get the candy, admitted 6-year old Paige.
I come because my mom likes the parade, and I like to come with her, added Patricia, 9, her voice muffled from beneath the scarf wrapped tightly around her lower face.
Paige leaned forward with a mischievous grin. After we get the candy, my Dad sits in the car and eats it, she confided, pointing over her shoulder to her father.
Tim Neininger grinned. Shes right, I do, he acknowledged.
But Paige was not finished giving up her fathers secrets.
At Halloween, he does the same thing, but he sits at Grandmas and eats it out of the bowl, the six year old added, a fact quickly confirmed by Renita Neininger.
It seems there was some delay with Santa Claus arriving in time to take his place on the final float, so the parade was a little late in beginning. Meanwhile, the Neiningers, like many others around them, burrowed deeper into their protective blankets.
When asked how cold it was, Patricia nodded wisely as she answered, About minus 100, I think.
Her younger sister had a much different answer. I think it is 104 degrees, she stated confidently.
Regardless of the actual temperature, all agreed it was definitely a very cold night for the parade. As the last float, carrying jolly old St. Nicholas himself rounded the final corner; crowds flocked from the parade to the fellowship hall of the First United Church of Christ on Fair Avenue in New Philadelphia to wait for Santas arrival there. As it has for many years in the past, the church volunteers offered a seemingly endless supply of cookies and hot chocolate and steaming coffee as well as a small food stand. Kavadas Photography of New Philadelphia was on hand to snap complimentary photos of little ones who waited in line to climb into Santas lap and give a full accounting of their fondest Christmas wishes.
Their tummies warmed with cookies and cocoa, and assured that their lists were safely in the hands of Santa Claus, the last of the hundreds of little ones and their parents left for home and sweet dreams of the Christmas to come.
