Santa is star of Elkins Christmas Parade
ELKINS — Anxious children lined the streets of Elkins on Wednesday evening as they awaited Santa’s arrival at the annual Christmas parade.
Nearly 80 acts including dance groups, area bands and Christmas carolers dressed festively in holiday-themed costumes as they entertained many from around the area in this year’s hour-long parade.
Elkins-Randolph County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Chelsey Jones said she was thankful for the collaborative community effort in making the parade a success.
Jones added more than 1,120 people took part in the parade, not including the hundreds of people who lined the streets to enjoy the holiday festivities.
Following the parade, families were invited to the Elkins YMCA to visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus and enjoy other activities including card decorating, music entertainment and refreshments.
Some 100 children took part in these activities and waited restlessly to tell Santa what they would like to have for Christmas this year.
Kaylee Long, 4, enjoyed meeting with Santa and said that the parade was fun. Long added she hopes that Santa will bring her a Shopkins toy this year.
This Christmas, Brennan Taylor, 7, asked Santa Claus for a toy train set after waiting anxiously to speak with him all evening.
Taylor said with much excitement, “My favorite part of the parade was Santa!”
Sponsors for the 2016 Christmas Parade include Citizens Bank of West Virginia, the Randolph County Commission and The Inter-Mountain.
The Elkins-Randolph County Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club of Elkins, Elkins YMCA and The Inter-Mountain sponsored the activities following the parade.