Whitewater celebrates the holiday season with a downtown parade

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Whitewater celebrates the holiday season with a downtown parade

Whitewater celebrates the holiday season with a downtown parade

Parade-goers on Friday gathered in Whitewater’s downtown to help ring in the holiday season.

Nearly 20 parade entrants, many of them sporting colorful lights, drove and marched along Main Street.

Forecasts promised a mixed bag of precipitation in advance of Friday, with parade organizers keeping a watchful eye on the weather, making the call that the parade would take place as scheduled early Friday morning.

Lisa Dawsey Smith, representing Downtown Whitewater, Inc., in her capacity as a parade organizer, said that large snowflakes on Friday ended in advance of the parade, with “just a couple of flurries,” floating around in the atmosphere by the time parade participants stepped out onto the designated route.

While she described the day as “cold and damp,” she said parade attendance appeared unaffected, as community members arrived on Main Street to celebrate the season.

Along with the parade, Friday’s events included a tree-lighting ceremony in the community’s downtown, near the “mill pond” associated with Cravath Lake, where a large tree is annually lit as part of the holiday kickoff celebration.

A group, calling itself the “Comeback Chorus,” sang several Christmas carols as part of the ceremony. Following a countdown and before a group of gathered spectators, both the live evergreen tree and several decorated “pallet trees” were lit.

Additionally, following the parade, Living World Fellowship hosted a free chili dinner.

According to Dawsey Smith, the dinner was well attended, with organizers reporting that they used all the meal items they had prepared.

Photos from the parade, taken by WhitewaterWise contracted photographer Zachary Popke, follow.

Spectators line Main Street in downtown Whitewater in anticipation of the holiday parade.

Two photos above: members of the Banner City Bikers club display their lighted vehicles.

A colorful float entered into the parade by The Boat House of Lauderdale Lakes makes its way through the intersection of Main and Whitewater streets.

A tractor pulls a colorful inflatable decoration, sporting a host of children’s cartoon characters, along Main Street.

A festively dressed canine pulls a wagon.

Led by “the Grinch,” representatives from Fort Community Credit Union march in the parade.

A float carrying several inflatable decorations is pulled by a Jones Logistics truck. The Parade of Lights in Whitewater was sponsored this year by Generac.

Two entrants, Oh-Kay Plumbing and Heating and the Lima 4-H club, parade near the intersection of Main and Whitewater streets.

“Santa and Mrs. Claus” wave to their fans as they travel down Main Street.

The PremierBank mascot and a companion ride along Main Street on a colorful float.

Walking alongside a float entered into the parade by the City of Whitewater Parks and Recreation Department, several city officials greet the crowd, including Whitewater City Manager John Weidl, who offered a wave as the group approached the intersection of Main and Whitewater streets.

A float entered into the parade by the Whitewater Parks and Recreation Department showcases brightly decorated trees made from pallets. Trees were decorated by members of the community as part of a holiday activity offered earlier this year.

A mammoth, the mascot of the Walworth-Jefferson County Chapter of the Ice Age Trail, travels through the intersection of Main and Whitewater streets.

A banner announces the Whitewater Holiday Parade of Lights, sponsored by Generac.

A well-lit float offered by Tincher Realty moves along Main Street.

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Chancellor Corey King waves to the crowd.

Members of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater newspaper “The Royal Purple” march along Main Street.

Decorated for the holiday, a vehicle pulls a float entered into the parade by the Whitewater FFA.

Two photos above: members of the Whitewater High School Band march along Main Street.

Two photos above: the Whitewater High School Ferradermis FIRST Robotics Competition Team robot, at top, glides along Main Street; Above, members of the team display their national team number.