Thousands Share Holiday Spirit at Annual Parade

By Kyle Hansen

Sunday, December 2, 2007

More than 4,000 people lined the edges of King Street in downtown Leesburg last night for the annual holiday parade.

The hour-long parade featured more than 40 groups, including the state-champion Loudoun County High School volleyball team, and of course, Santa Claus.

The parade followed a Christmas tree lighting ceremony and two hours of games and street entertainment in the streets near the courthouse.

“We loved the Christmas tree lighting,” Leesburg resident Patty Walsh said after Leesburg mayor Mayor Kristen C. Umstattd and her daughter flipped the switch to illuminate the tree.

“This is our first year here (at the lighting). We have lived in Leesburg for four years, but we have little ones this year,” she said, pointing to her 17-month-old daughter, Allie, who was having a hard time staying awake in her stroller.

“There is a small-town feeling here for such a growing area,” Walsh said.

Rick Berryhill and his wife, Tracy, moved from Miami to Leesburg a week before the parade last year with their sons, Hunter, 8, and Bryan, 2.

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Leesburg Parade

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Mark Lohr, also known as Galohr the Renaissance Jestor, entertains the crowd along the parade route with spinning plates. Lohr is from Frederick, Md. (Tracy A. Woodward)

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Micah Bump, from the District, is dressed as a toy soldier. He walked on stilts in the Leesburg Christmas Parade. (Tracy A. Woodward)

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The Leesburg Volunteer Fire Department's truck made an appearance in the Christmas Parade. (Tracy A. Woodward)

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This photo shows the crowd flowing onto King Street in downtown Leesburg after the end of the Christmas Parade. (Tracy A. Woodward)

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From left: Avery Paul, 4, with her sisters, Taylor, 5, and Aydan, 3, react to the loud horn of the Leesburg Volunteer Fire Department's truck. (Tracy A. Woodward)

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The Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital sponsored a float in the Leesburg Christmas Parade. (Tracy A. Woodward)

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“It is a kid-friendly, family-safe event, and there's not much of that anymore,” Berryhill said. “It's a time to get the spirit of Christmas out there.”

Hunter said he wasn't sure about his favorite part of the evening, but eventually made a decision.

“All the fire trucks," he said. "I really don't know why; I have always wanted to be one (a firefighter) my whole life.”

Before the parade began, Junior Girl Scout Troop 1754 huddled in the cold at Ida Lee Park while the marching band warmed up and a group of Cub Scouts played games nearby.

“This is their first time in the parade, so they are really excited,” said leader Laurie Kauffman, who was wearing a box wrapped like a Christmas present. “I think it is everyone's dream to be in a parade just once.”

The girls in the troop have been in Girl Scouts together since kindergarten and now are fourth-graders in Leesburg elementary schools. Some of the girls were dressed as presents while others wore elf costumes.

Maddi Peyton, one of the elves, could barely contain her excitement to be in the parade.

“You get to dress up and show everybody your costume,” she said. “You have joy and happiness because you get to see your friends.”

Parade organizer Rachael Goodwin said the crowd at this year's event exceeded expectations -- about 1,000 more people attended than last year.

“This year, we featured more local performing groups and local choirs,” she said.

The pre-parade entertainment included horse-drawn carriage rides, carolers and entertainers doing magic and other tricks in the streets. Santa was available for photos in front of the courthouse.

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