Family and friends brought together to watch Holiday Caravan

Published 12:10 am Thursday, November 24, 2016

By Amanda Raymond

By Amanda Raymond
amanda.raymond@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — Mamie Fleming went to this year’s Holiday Caravan with her two daughters. She has lived in Salisbury for her whole life and has come to the parade every year.

She said it’s a time to see people she might not have seen all year.

“If we don’t get together any other time, this is when we do,” she said.

Many others used Wednesday’s 57th annual Holiday Caravan to reconnect with family and friends. It started at 2 p.m. in Spencer and rolled into Salisbury at 3 p.m.

More than 130 organizations and businesses rode, danced and marched down Main Street as hundreds of people crowded sidewalks to watch.

Janet Ward Black, attorney and principal owner of Ward Black Law in Greensboro, was this year’s grand marshal.

Adrianna Kelsey served as Miss Holiday Caravan, with Destiny Lutz and Hannah Mayhew serving as first and second runner up, respectively. Amarriya Harris was Miss Weather Girl.

Food Lion was the presenting sponsor.

The cloudy day was a crisp 58 degrees when the parade started and most people were fine with sweaters and sweatshirts. Some had blankets wrapped around their shoulders or flung out on the ground to sit on.

Businesses and organizations brought out colorful floats and donned holiday costumes. Some played music while others threw out candy. Kings and queens waved from vehicles and police and fire department vehicles blared their sirens.

Cassandra Kluttz and her family and friends set up chairs and blankets an hour before the parade. She said they always try to set up in the same spot. They even coordinate who is bringing lunch and snacks.

“We have a system,” Kluttz said.

Kluttz said she usually comes to support her family and friends participating in the parade.

Sabrina Hepler, who brought her 6-year-old daughter to the parade, said she likes watching the floats go by and she loves the bands.

Bands from Livingstone College and Vance High School could be heard long before they were seen. Other high school bands also played during the parade.

People on the sidewalks called out to friends and family members on floats and enjoyed cotton candy and funnel cakes from nearby vendors.

Fleming said she enjoys events like the parade because it unites the community.

“We need to stick together, we need to be together,” she said.

Kluttz said she likes seeing how happy the candy and seeing Santa Claus makes the children. She said the parade helps support local businesses, along with bringing people together.

“It reminds us that the whole town’s a family,” she said.

The parade will be broadcasted on WAXN-TV64 on Dec. 11 at 10:30 a.m.

Contact reporter Amanda Raymond at 704-797-4222.

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