|
PARTNERS | HEALTHY CITY | HOW HEALTHY | VISION | SUMMIT | PRIORITIES | FUNCTIONS | CITY OF FALL RIVER |
The
25th Annual
Christmas Parade stepped off from Kennedy Park at 12:30 p.m. in a steady
drizzle on December 5, 2009, with the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus by
helicopter and
proceeded down South Main Street to the cheers of hundreds of wet but
enthusiastic viewers. Five gigantic helium balloons depicting Sponge Bob
Squarepants, Big Bird, Kermit the Frog, Nemo and Rudolph handled by Fabulous
Inflatables of Detroit, provided a dramatic background to the 19 local, state and regional bands
and dozens of local schools and organizations who marched along the
half-mile parade route to Government Center. "This is by far the
biggest parade that has ever been held in the City," remarked CD-REC
executive director Grace Gerling, one of the principal organizers of the
event. Despite the steady rain, marchers and viewers kept up steady
entertainment and applause right up to the reviewing stand where Mayor
Robert Correia and his wife greeted each participant. Following the
parade, everyone crowded into the Veteran's Memorial on Bank Street where
game, pictures with Santa and refreshments were offered at no charge. Click
here to see all of the photos and here to see
the Heritage Holiday House. For more information, contact Grace Gerling at
508-679-022.
|
||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
(Top row, left) Santa arrives by helicopter in the middle of Kennedy Park and is greeted by a Fall River police officer. (Top row, center) B.M.C. Durfee High School students Brojan Murphy, Tyler Winn and Evelyn Pinnick take shelter from the rain while awaiting the start of the parade. (Top row, right) Fall River police officer Jim Machado hand candy to three-year-old Darius Bayanillao at the start of the parade. (Second row, left and center) Five-year-old Lawrence Bird holds his Sponge Bob umbrella while watching member of YouthBuild and Team FRESH and maneuver the giant balloon under the first set of wires. (Second row, right) Terry Perhatch of the Aqua String Band marches while playing a banjo. (Third row, center) Four-year-old Mykel Vega watches Sponge Bob and Big Bird in awe. (Third row, right) Members of the Fall River Fire Department march down South Main Street. (Fourth row, left) A member of the Peaceful Coalition performs in front of Mayor Correia and his wife at Government Center. (Fourth row, center) State Representatives David Sullivan and Michael Rodrigues enjoy the parade despite the steady rain. (Fourth row, right) A team from Paul Prudhomme's Louisiana Kitchen maneuvers Big Bird around the corner on Central Street. (Fifth row, center) Department of Public Works director Ken Pacheco and Carol Valcourt describes the parade on a live WHTB radio broadcast. (Fifth row, right) The CE-REC Hip Hop dance class performs at the corner of Main & Bedford Streets. (Bottom row) The Grinch makes his way around the floor of CD-REC where hundreds gathered after the parade for hot chocolate, face painting, pictures with Santa and and a chance to bounce in one of two moon walk inflatable enclosures. |
Return to the Partners Home Page