Ashland holiday festivities Saturday include parade, tree lighting and fireworks

ASHLAND - A Hallmark movie experince is "what we're going for," said Ashland Mayor Matt Miller, as a camera boom arm hovered over Claremont Avenue on Saturday evening.

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Throngs lined Claremont and Main Street and surrounded Corner Park to watch the 70-unit parade make its way from Ashland University through downtown Ashland.

Hallmark movies represent the "kind world" mirroring the motto Ashland strives to achieve -- World Headquarters of Nice People -- Miller said.

Expected to join the mass of in-person attendees were thousands of viewers watching the parade, the theme of which was favorite Christmas song; tree lighting; and fireworks livestreamed on the city's Facebook page.

The mayor and co-hosts Melanie Miller and Chelley Kemper of WMFD praised the restaurants, decorations and activities making Ashland a destination for visitors and drawing an enthusiastic crowd to Saturday evening's festivities.

The trio provided commentary on the efforts of community organizations, churches, businesses, schools, scouting groups, governmental agencies and even candidates for various offices. Participants ranging from tall toy soldiers on stilts and Nutcracker dancers to an Ashland City school bus elaborately decorated and sporting a Grinch face marched through town.

"That (bus) may be a winner," said someone in the crowd, referring to a panel of community judges evaluating the entries.

"The judges have a tough time tonight," Melanie Miller said.

The parade stepped off with Ashland Police Chief David Lay and ended with an entry by Ashland Main Street, whose executive director Sandra Tunnell was given a "special shout-out" by Matt Miller for helping to bring "new life" to Ashland.

The lighting of what he described as "a 40-foot majestic pine artificial tree" with 18,000 twinkling lights was accompanied by fireworks and met with cheers.

Dick and Ronda Poorbaugh of Grandpa's Cheesebarn donate funds for fireworks, nativity scene

The new nativity scene in Bicentennial Park, the downtown Christmas decorations and the firework display were all made possible by the generosity of "a wonderful couple," Dick and Ronda Poorbaugh of Grandpa's Cheesebarn, Matt Miller said.

The nativity scene was their idea, he said.

"We wanted to help celebrate," said Dick Poorbaugh, and to honor the birth of Jesus.

The festive spirit of the evening was evident even before the event began.

Little girls dressed as characters from the Grinch waited expectantly to board their Whoville float at the start of the parade route at Ashland University.

Piper Festge, 5, and Payton Kelly, 3, sported hair teased high and topped with a bow like Cindy Lou Who; and 2-year-old Tatum Festge, whose face was appropriately Grinch-green, matched their theme song, "Where Are You, Christmas?"

Their mothers, Jayde Festge and Riley Kelly, said their daughters were excited to be part of the Whoville float sponsored by Drop the Beat Dance Center in Mansfield.

Justice Farms in Shiloh bring donkeys for Genesis Christian Academy float

Donkeys, courtesy of April Johnson and John Justice of Justice Farms in Shiloh, were biding their time for their debut on the float put together by Genesis Christian Academy of Ashland, administrated by Hillary Young. The Academy picked the song "Mary, Did You Know?" said the school's PTO director Lynn Baker.

"(The donkeys) go with the theme," Johnson said.

Abbi Hynek and Brittany Wentworth from the dance program of the YMCA of Ashland put the finishing touches on their float, using white tablecloths as part of the snow theme for the song "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?"

Not quite able to incorporate a snow machine, they used a bubble machine as an accessory to their "Frozen" float.

Katie and Ron Bolden played Mary and Joseph for New Life Community Church of Ashland, featuring Christmas songs performed by the church's Kids' Choir.

Staff and church members on the float planned to pass out invitations to their Discover Christmas live nativity program and toss candy, said Pastor Dave McNeely.

Hands of Grace Services of Ashland got creative with their float illustrating The Miser Brothers' "The Year Without a Santa Claus," said Krystal Estridge, who noted it was a collaboration of many.

Heat Miser and Snow Miser manned it with fake snow at one end of the float and flames at the other end.

From start to finish, the holiday event was "a magical experience," said Kemper.

More features to be added next year with extra funds from the Poorbaughs

With additional funds set aside by the Poorbaughs, extra features will be added to the event next year, said Matt Miller, who throughout the evening thanked other individuals and businesses for their contributions.

"Look at this crowd," he said, calling it extraordinary. "We are so thankful to have you in downtown Ashland this evening."

"Christmas is only going to get better in downtown Ashland."

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Ashland holiday festivities include parade, tree lighting, fireworks