by Tim Jagielo
Fenton — The fire trucks wound their way slowly through downtown, sirens bellowing and yellow lights setting the rainy streets ablaze with color.
While many thought it was pretty, more than a thousand spectators of the Saturday, Dec. 1, Jinglefest Parade probably would have preferred a drier evening.
The heaviest rain held off until after the tree was lighted and the fireworks display, for which Pat Lockwood, festival chair, was very grateful.
“It was challenging all day long knowing the weather was not the best ever,” Lockwood said. “I think the committee was relieved that so many people showed up to be in the parade, and so many came up to watch.”
This event is held rain or shine, except when lightning is present, and there is no alternative “venue” for the event, so parade runners have to deal with the weather.
There were 43 floats in the parade. Three canceled out of concern for their float being ruined by the wind and drizzle.
The Fenton High School and Lake Fenton High School marching bands braved the weather in style and with new uniforms.
It was drizzling through the full schedule of events which included holiday shopping, Christmas tree decorating, brunch with Santa, and the JingleJog 5K race, which had a record 370 runners, Lockwood said. She added that several retailers stayed open for evening shopping and restaurants were busy.
She said that overall, between 8,000 and 10,000 came throughout the day, mostly for the parade at 6 p.m.
After the fireworks and tree lighting, families lined up inside the Fenton Community and Cultural Center to take photos with Santa.
The Christmas tree itself became a background for family and friend selfies.
“Attendance was down, but we were pleased with the amount of people that came out despite the weather,” said Fenton Police Chief Jason Slater.
Slater’s police department, the fire department and along with the help of the Department of Public Works, were in charge of safety. “We want everyone to come down and enjoy themselves and be as safe as possible while doing it.”
This year, police erected rented pedestrian barricades at narrower parts of North LeRoy Street for the first time, to keep the streets clear for large vehicles like the fire trucks.
The parade route was blocked by DPW and Fenton police vehicles. Despite orders, some still tossed candy from atop their parade floats. Slater said entrants are instructed to have walkers deliver the candy to deter kids from grabbing candy from the street, but several were tossing them, which often hit the barricades, or were lobbed higher into the air to avoid the barricades. “It causes problems for us; you’ve got kids running into the street,” he said.
Slater said there were no medical incidents.
Fenton — The fire trucks wound their way slowly through downtown, sirens bellowing and yellow lights setting the rainy streets ablaze with color.
While many thought it was pretty, more than a thousand spectators of the Saturday, Dec. 1, Jinglefest Parade probably would have preferred a drier evening.
The heaviest rain held off until after the tree was lighted and the fireworks display, for which Pat Lockwood, festival chair, was very grateful.
“It was challenging all day long knowing the weather was not the best ever,” Lockwood said. “I think the committee was relieved that so many people showed up to be in the parade, and so many came up to watch.”
This event is held rain or shine, except when lightning is present, and there is no alternative “venue” for the event, so parade runners have to deal with the weather.
There were 43 floats in the parade. Three canceled out of concern for their float being ruined by the wind and drizzle.
The Fenton High School and Lake Fenton High School marching bands braved the weather in style and with new uniforms.
It was drizzling through the full schedule of events which included holiday shopping, Christmas tree decorating, brunch with Santa, and the JingleJog 5K race, which had a record 370 runners, Lockwood said. She added that several retailers stayed open for evening shopping and restaurants were busy.
She said that overall, between 8,000 and 10,000 came throughout the day, mostly for the parade at 6 p.m.
After the fireworks and tree lighting, families lined up inside the Fenton Community and Cultural Center to take photos with Santa.
The Christmas tree itself became a background for family and friend selfies.
“Attendance was down, but we were pleased with the amount of people that came out despite the weather,” said Fenton Police Chief Jason Slater.
Slater’s police department, the fire department and along with the help of the Department of Public Works, were in charge of safety. “We want everyone to come down and enjoy themselves and be as safe as possible while doing it.”
This year, police erected rented pedestrian barricades at narrower parts of North LeRoy Street for the first time, to keep the streets clear for large vehicles like the fire trucks.
The parade route was blocked by DPW and Fenton police vehicles. Despite orders, some still tossed candy from atop their parade floats. Slater said entrants are instructed to have walkers deliver the candy to deter kids from grabbing candy from the street, but several were tossing them, which often hit the barricades, or were lobbed higher into the air to avoid the barricades. “It causes problems for us; you’ve got kids running into the street,” he said.
Slater said there were no medical incidents.
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