 35 floats signed up for Charles W. Howard Hometown Parade in Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 December 2025 at 9:32 pm

Hometown Holiday features many activities on Dec. 13

File photo by Tom Rivers: This float carrying Santa and Mrs. Claus passes down Platt Street during last year’s Charles W. Howard Hometown Parade on Dec. 14. The parade tomorrow on Dec. 13 will have Santa in a boat to celebrate the Erie Canal bicentennial.

ALBION – A parade will feature 35 lighted floats on Saturday in Albion for the fifth annual lighted parade in the village.

The Charles W. Howard Hometown Parade begins at 6 p.m. on Route 31 at Dubby’s parking lot and heads to Route 98, goes down Main Street to Bank Street and then goes to Platt Street and concludes at Dubby’s, where there will be a party after the parade.

The parade is named in honor of Charles Howard, who ran a Santa School in Albion from 1937 to 1966. He also operated Christmas Park beginning in the mid-1950s. That site attracted about 80,000 people a year.

The parade will culminate with a float carrying Santa. This year Santa will be a boat as a tribute to the Erie Canal’s 200^th anniversary in 2025.

There are prizes for the top floats: $600 for first $400 for second, and $200 for third.

Ron Albertson will serve as the parade announcer from a stand on Main Street across from the Post Office.

Here is the schedule for Saturday for Albion’s Hometown Christmas:

Shopping with Misfit Toys from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The Downtown Browsery
Free Ice Cream & Hot Chocolate from 10 a.m. to noon at Tinsel
Kids’ Crafts from 10 a.m. to noon at Town and Country Quilt Shop
Donuts & Coffee with Cops, and Kids’ Crafts from 10 a.m. to noon at Village Hall (35 E. Bank)
Ornament Kits from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Red Check
Tea with Mrs. Claus from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hoag Library
Free Chicken Dinners (while supplies last) beginning at noon from Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries at Masonic Lodge on Platt Street
Fireside with Santa from 3 to 4 p.m. at Hearth & Home
Christmas Traditions with crafts, cupcakes & free gifts from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at Albion Free Methodist Church
Charles W. Howard Hometown Parade begins at 6 p.m. at Dubby’s Tailgate, goes down Main St. and ends back at Dubby’s. (After the parade at Dubby’s visit with Santa & Mrs. Claus)
Movie Night with free pizza, cocoa & candy at 7 p.m. at Albion Free Methodist Church
All Day at 39 Problems – drink specials & live music after the parade