Hundreds of people lined the streets of downtown Newton Thursday as the annual Newton Christmas Parade promised candy, fun and an opportunity to get into the holiday spirit.
Emily Pugh, Newton Chamber director, said the parade, which was themed, “Once Upon a Christmas,” was a huge success. With 11 floats and over 30 groups participating, the parade was a spectacular display of holiday cheer from businesses, organizations and groups from all over Newton.
“What I think was really neat, I love the band being in it,” she said. “Newton really showed out last night.”
Even groups from out of town came to participate in the parade, Pugh said. Mama Jean’s Restaurant, from Lake, had a float in the parade, as did Hickory American Legion. Having organizations come from so far away was a special surprise, she said.
“It was really cool,” she said. “I just wanted to cry looking at that float. It was so sweet.”
Pugh said a big thank you is owed to all of the people and organizations who helped make the parade such a huge success including this year’s grand marshals, who are also this year’s Newton Man and Woman of the Year, Randy Cuchens and Leigh Anne Whittle; the judges for the float contest, Beth Milling, Mark Buntyn and Jamara Dunn; and Sen. Terry C. Burton, who was the Emcee for the parade.
Sen. Burton, who serves as the Senate pro tempore in the Mississippi Legislature, took time out of his busy schedule to Emcee his hometown’s Christmas Parade, Pugh said.
“It was really neat for Senator Terry C. Burton to take time to be the Emcee for our parade,” she said. “He did great.”
Pugh said she also wanted to thank Newton Police Department for all their work making the parade possible. Not only do NPD officers provide security and divert traffic, they also help track how many people attended the annual event.
While the parade is fun to watch, Pugh said it is also a chance for float entries to win bragging rights for the next year. Each year, she said, a trophy is given to each of the top three floats to keep until the next parade.
The winners of the float competition for this year were, in first place, the City of Newton, second place, Newton Elementary School and Mama Jean’s Restaurant in third.
With so many beautiful floats, walking groups and residents coming out to watch, Pugh said the Newton Christmas Parade was “absolutely wonderful,” and all participants should be proud of the great show they put on Thursday night.
