Albion has fun with ‘Santa’s Hometown Parade’

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 December 2022 at 8:52 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Air Raising Events owner Sheryl Watts created this snowman out of balloons. She is lined up Saturday evening for “Santa’s Hometown Parade” in Albion.

The participants in the parade gathered at the Arnold Gregory parking lot on South Main Street before heading downtown.

Kaitlyn Samsel, right, helps Cole Samsel with his lighted moose costume before the parade. Kaitlyn would put on a reindeer costume decorated with lights. The family car also was lighted up for the parade.

Natasha Wasuck and her husband John Hernandez take a selfie with their float featuring a bridal gown. They are the owners of The Lockstone, which hosts weddings and other special events.

Don Greenough and his wife Amanda hold their daughter Joy. They decorated their car for the parade. Greenough also has a big lighted display at his home on Platt Street.

“My wife calls me Clark Griswold because I’m over the top,” Greenough said.

He had a cutout of Griswold, the star of the National Lampoon Vacation movies, in the front seat.

This float was ready to carry Santa into the downtown.

Jami Allport helps get the float ready for AYSAP, the youth football and cheerleading program.

COVA and Mercy Flight EMS decorated two ambulances in lights for the parade.

PAWS put lights and a white nose on this vehicle for the parade.

The Oak Orchard Yacht Club created a float to resemble a sailboat.

The Orleans County Sheriff’s Department’s Marine Patrol Unit decorated a boat for Christmas.

This display sent a message to choose kindness over being a Grinch.

After the parade, there were music and activities in the the downtown. Michael Bonafede on drums joined the Westside Drive band in front of the Pratt and Day buildings, historic buildings owned by Bonafede and his wife Judith Koehler.