Cold doesn’t deter parade-goers

• Image

The Jamestown Clowns swing and play on a teeter-totter, as their float goes by in the Holiday Dazzle parade Friday. Kari Lucin The Sun
• Image

Kari Lucin / The Sun Adults and children bundled up before they headed to the Holiday Dazzle parade Friday, as temperatures dipped to 13 before the event began.
• Image

The local Sons of Norway decked its Viking longboat with Christmas lights before the Holiday Dazzle parade. The longboat also emitted smoke from the figurehead’s nostrils, and its eyes glowed a festive red. Kari Lucin The Sun

Talk about it

Spectators braved the chill of a 13-degree evening Friday to see angels and clowns, Charlie Brown and Waldo, and even Santa Claus, in the ninth annual Holiday Dazzle parade.

“We’re visiting our cousins for Thanksgiving and thought we’d check it out,” said Lynn Harrell of Miller, S.D., whose family was all bundled up in winter gear to watch the show.

Wife Trish Harrell and children Colby, 7, and Ethan, 5, were along for the ride.

So were the Jamestown family members — Tammy Mewes and her four children, Colton, 8, Morgan, 13, Jordyn, 10, and Paxton, 15. They’ve been to every parade since they moved to Jamestown about five years ago.

“It’s pretty,” Morgan said.

“And I like all the candy,” Jordyn added.

This year’s Holiday Dazzle parade featured 47 parade units, from fire trucks and sheriff’s vehicles to massive farm machinery fitted with strings of Christmas lights. There was even a pirate ship and a Viking longboat.

Many of the floats featured music. At least one group opted to make its own music — the Jamestown Choralaires huddled in their truck, staving off the cold with traditional Christmas tunes.

Many floats also featured people handing out candy, either by directly handing it to children or walking very close to them before tossing it a scant few feet.

The parade lasted about an hour, and when it was over, people warmed up at Shady’s, where refreshments were available.

The winners of the Holiday Dazzle parade were Kitchen Solvers, which won $500 in chamber bucks, RealTruck, which won $250 in chamber bucks, and the Jamestown Area Ambulance, which won $100 in chamber bucks.

According to parade organizer Charlie Kourajian of the Main Street Downtown Association, parade attendance was between 2,000 and 2,500 people — about average.

“It kind of kicks off the holiday season,” Tammy Mewes said.

Sun reporter Kari Lucin can be reached at 701-952-8453 or by email at klucin@jamestownsun.com

Tags: local news, news, parade