Greenwood’s Christmas season went into full swing with Friday’s parade through downtown.
At 4 p.m., the 88th annual Roy Martin Delta Band Festival and Christmas Parade took off with a modified route but numerous regular spectators to take in the celebration.
“The parade just does something for me,” said Mary Flowers, a native of Greenwood who attends each year. “Not just the parade, but just the Christmas and the excitement. Everything that goes on with the young people and the babies. I just enjoy it.”
This year, Mississippi’s oldest Christmas parade, sponsored by the Greenwood-Leflore County Chamber of Commerce, began on Main Street.
The grand marshal was Leflore County Sheriff Ricky Banks, who has announced he will retire and not seek reelection next year after more than 40 years in office.
Banks, who was wearing a cowboy hat with a high brim, rode in a red car leading the parade.
Mable Hopkins, a deputy clerk with Greenwood Municipal Court, sat with her family along Fulton Street. She described what she most enjoys about the event.
“Just the different floats and (watch) the bands perform and then Santa Claus at the end,” she said. “Just something to do as a family.”
Last year’s parade had unusually warm weather for December, but Hopkins liked this year’s temperatures in the 60s. “It’s real nice. I enjoy it.”
The parade marched north on Main Street, turning west on Market Street before turning north again on Fulton, which brought it to its traditional route going on to Keesler Bridge and Grand Boulevard.
Makayla Brown, a 7-year-old student at Davis Elementary School who was attending with her family, had a simple reason why she enjoyed coming out each year.
“I like the candy,” she said.
- Contact Kevin Edwards at 662-581-7233 or kedwards@gwcommonwealth.com.
