For the 42nd straight year, the streets of downtown Emporia were filled with Christmas cheer Tuesday evening for the annual Emporia Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade.
Activities began at 719 Commercial Street with the annual tree lighting ceremony led by Emporia Mayor Jon Geitz followed by the invocation and benediction conducted by St. James Missionary Baptist Church Pastor Larry Williams. Once the yearly message concluded Commercial Street was filled with lights, cheer and plenty of music.
This year’s parade had 85 total entries make their way through downtown Emporia and were all led by this year’s Parade Marshall and current Emporia Police Chief Scott Cronk. As is tradition in Emporia, the parade concluded with Santa Claus spreading joy and merriment to all the residents in attendance.
Individual float winners were as follows:
PARADE MARSHALL AWARD: Flint Hills Community Health Center
PARADE COMMITTEE AWARD: Sacred Heart Catholic Church
CHAMBER AWARD: USS OKanogan
MAYOR’S AWARD: Emporia Symphony League
Photos by Tagan Trahoon/KVOE News
{gallery}120319 Christmas Parade{/gallery}
Photos by Ginny Samples
{gallery}120319 Christmas Parade Ginny Samples{/gallery}
