Takeform developing signature Santa float for Medina’s Parade of Lights

Photo by Tom Rivers: Some of the Takeform team members working on a 16-foot-long Christmas float include Doug Robertson, product engineer; Alahna Grady, designer; and Shannon Dent, design coordinator. This is the sleigh for the float that will include five reindeer, an illumined moon and scenery of Medina.

MEDINA – Takeform will be back in this year’s Parade of Lights and the former grand champion isn’t aiming for the top award.

The company is building a float to carry Santa and Mrs. Claus. The 16-foot-long creation will include a sleigh, five reindeer including Rudolph with a glowing red nose, an illumined moon and recognizable Medina scenery – Bent’s Opera House, the Presbyterian Church and a train highlighting the Medina Railroad Museum. (The Mr. and Mrs. Claus at Medina’s Rotary Park have visited the Takeform shop on Maple Ridge Road to offer insights on a well designed sleigh, including a spot for the sack for presents.)

Company owner Bill Hungerford and the employees are working on a spectacular float with lights and animation.

Takeform is making the float and donating it to the village to be used annually in the parade.

The company is paying for the materials and utilizing its employees to create the float. The company designs and creates signs, architectural graphics and interpretive displays, as well as other products.

Takeform won grand prize in 2017 for a Medina-themed float and then in 2018 for a tropical-themed display on a trailer. The company hasn’t been in the parade since then, but has been part of Medina’s Olde Tyme Christmas celebration. It creates ornaments each year, and last year made a gratitude display at Rotary Park. It makes the large letters at Rotary Park wishing the community a Merry Christmas and other messages about the season.

Takeform offered a peak at the float today. The company has been brainstorming the design since March and the pieces are being manufactured with assembly to come.

Takeform isn’t showing the full design but allowed a photo of the sleigh today. The company wants to keep an element of surprise for when the float heads down Park Avenue and Main Street on Nov. 26 for the big parade.

The sleigh is on wheels. It has a seat for Santa and Mrs. Claus, and the spot for the big bag of presents. The sleigh will be painted red. The five reindeer will look like they are taking off in flight. Rudolph will lead the float and will overhang from the trailer.

The float has a “Night before Christmas in Medina” theme.

“We wanted to keep it classic,” said Shannon Dent, design coordinator for Takeform. “This will be built to last.”