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Parade will offer fun for children of all ages

Heather Goodwin Henline, parade committee chair, Kathy Leomburno, Cindee Campbell, Chelsey Jones, Jess Shaffer and Wendy Morgan meet to put the finishing touches on the 2016 ERCCC Christmas parade, set for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in downtown Elkins.

ELKINS — Occasionally the simplest of items can work magic with a child, and Osiris Klown Jerry Pastine knows that a stuffed animal happens to be one of those magical objects.

“No matter what size the toy, you get the same joyful expression from the child,” Pastine said about the stuffed animal distribution his clown group has planned for the upcoming Elkins-Randolph County Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Supported by the local Shriners, the hillbilly costumed Osiris Klowns will join more than 60 units in celebrating A Classic Christmas — the theme for this year’s holiday events — throughout the town of Elkins.

Pastine will drive a vintage Harley-Davidson golf cart, while other featured entrants will ride floats, perform routines, and pass out goodies to onlookers lining the parade route extending from South Davis Avenue to the Elkins-Randolph County YMCA on Fourth Street.

The Clowns Are Us Shriners and Friends will also be participating.

The iconic symbol of fire prevention, Smokey the Bear, will also appear in the line-up, stirring in all generations familiar memories of the mascot.

“Smokey serves as a continual reminder to the public that agencies and citizens must remain vigilant in fire prevention efforts,” said Cameron Crisp, Fire Dispatch Center manager for the U.S. Forest Service in Elkins. “Visibility of Smokey and the Fire Team in a parade is a great way to accomplish this.”

Dozens of area businesses, youth groups, military units, faith communities, local governments and conservation teams will perform between high school bands and emergency service agencies.

“We are pleased to announce the West Virginia Highlanders of Davis & Elkins College,” announced ERCCC Executive Director Chelsey Jones. The local bagpipe and drum corps features the Great Highland Bagpipe, a Scottish instrument of much renown, said corps member Matthew Taylor, a 2005 graduate of D & E College.

“I became a member of this band 14 years ago because I felt it provided a deep connection to my heritage,” Taylor said of the unisex band and color guard. “There are many people in this area are of Scotch-Irish descent. To make that connection is an amazing thing.”

Beginning at 6 p.m., before the parade begins, local coral groups will be singing at different street corner locations along the half-mile parade route.

The parade will culminate at the YMCA Building, where Santa and Mrs. Claus will be waiting inside to bestow gifts on the visiting children. Indoor musical entertainment will also be provided as an accompaniment to Christmas card and list-making stations, as well as a photo booth for pictures with Santa. Popcorn from Elkins Cinema 8, cookies from the Rotary Club of Elkins and juice for the children from Ceramics with Class’s Ed and Elaine Griesel are all graciously donated for this event.

“A parade — especially a Christmas parade — inspires a community to come together like family, if only for one night,” Jones stated. “We just hope everyone takes this opportunity to celebrate with us.”

For more information or to enter a unit in the parade, call 304-636-2717 or email erccc@chamber.com.

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