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Santa waves to the crowd that lined Caroline Street during the Fredericksburg Jaycees Christmas Parade last night. View More Images from this story Visit the Photo Place

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Hitting the streets to greet the season

Parades in the region spark the Christmas season

Date published: 12/2/2007

By DAN TELVOCK

Communities across the region gathered yesterday to start off the Christmas season in style.

Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania County, Colonial Beach and Bowling Green all celebrated with their annual parades.

Hard Work pays off

The Fredericksburg Jaycees have the responsibility of pleasing about 10,000 people who come each year for the city's parade.

"It's different every year," said Jennifer Walsh, who sat on a crowded Caroline Street sidewalk as a marching band passed.

Walsh, who has come to the past 10 parades, said she can tell it takes "a lot of planning and a lot of hard work."

Ayree Rice, the parade coordinator, wouldn't disagree. Her day started at 10:30 a.m., when she picked up the trophies for the eventual parade winners.

The parade route is broken up into six sections, each led by a Jaycees volunteer.

With a little more than 100 entries, each section leader keeps the 20 or so floats and groups on his street moving.

"If it takes too long then people get bored," Rice said of the parade's pace.

With a radio and headphones snug to her ears, Rice communicated throughout the evening with the section leaders to ensure a smooth parade. By 5:20, she was going through the final checklist.

A sense of urgency immediately hit her. Where was the sleigh and Santa?

The General Motors plant customarily provides the self-propelled sleigh that ends the parade.

"I was having a panic attack because they said it wasn't here yet," she said as she walked quickly down Caroline Street. "I want to see it with my own eyes."

And shortly after she uttered those words, she found GM's sleigh, and Santa.

She paced back to a Fredericksburg police officer in a cruiser and signaled him to start the parade with the din of his siren.

"One, two, three, blast off!" the officer yelled as his cruiser's lights flashed red, white and blue colors on the faces of eager parade watchers.

Marcia Fisher and her 10-year-old daughter, Erin, had front-row seats on Caroline Street.

"I like to see how all the floats are and everything," Erin said.

"I like the bands," her mother added.

Memories Abound

FREDERICKSBURG Marching band: North Stafford High School Senior majorette: Dixie Royals Junior majorette: Dynamic All Stars Novelty: Cub Scout Pack 22 Equestrian: United Horseman's Association Noncommercial float: Fredericksburg Academy Commercial float: Fredericksburg Auto Auction Marching: Area 11 Special Olympics Dance/Gymnastics: Dance and Gym Expression SPOTSYLVANIA Spotsylvania will post its winners Tuesday on the Web at spotsylvania.va.us.

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Date published: 12/2/2007