Leesburg launches Christmas parade and festival | PHOTO GALLERY

LEESBURG — It was warm but overcast for Leesburg’s big Christmas parade down Main Street Saturday. For a while, it was downright foggy.

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“The weather’s not ideal, but we’re happy with it,” said Lisa Davis, vice president of the Lee County Chamber of Commerce. “We were a little nervous early in the week when the prediction was 60 percent for rain.”

None of the many hundreds of parade participants and spectators seemed bothered by much of anything, but brought their favorite portable chairs to catch the sights and sounds and perhaps gather in a handful of hard candy. Some eager souls turned out an hour early or more to enjoy their breakfast by the roadside.

Lisa Granberry sampled some homemade banana bread, as did her husband Brian, her mother, father, her niece and sister-in-law Micki Buckley.

“It’s provides a great sense of community to be right here in the middle of it,” Buckley said, “Plus, we love the nice cars, the horses, the doggie parade later, and course the Lee County High School Band.”

Haley Senn, 10, and her cousin Michael Senn of the same age came mostly for the candy, they said, and how the sweet stuff is “delivered.”

“It’s part of the fun when they throw (the candy) at you,” Haley Senn said. “Parades are awesome.”

Beginning at 10 a.m. near Lee County High School, 92 entries, including clubs, scout troops, political figures, ball teams, commercial businesses, a marching band and more lumbered at parade pace to and through downtown.

Of course no one is a bigger draw in December than the jolly ol’ big guy with the long white beard.

But Leesburg’s Christmas event didn’t stop with the parade. On Starkesville Avenue, adjoining Main Street, the city’s Christmas festival continued until 2 p.m.

In addition to some 50 food and fine arts vendors, officials said the festival would feature acts such as Broadway Bound, Cheyenne Lawing, Colt McClung, and John Hunter. In addition, there was planned a dance company performance, the youngest Elvis Presley impersonator in Southwest Georgia and entertainment by the Lee County High School Chorus. Last but not least, man’s best friends would stage their own doggie pet parade.

For non-commercial entries in this year’s parade, Judge Jim Thurman took top honors, while second place went to the Lee County YMCA and third to MCA Cheer Extreme.

The first place award for commercial entries went to Leesburg Animal Hospital with second prize going to Coldwell Banker Walden & Kirkland and third to Dental Partners of Southwest Georgia.