Santa Claus could not have chosen a more beautiful evening to join the Magic on Main electric Christmas parade Saturday night.
The annual parade, sponsored by the Andrews Chamber of Commerce & Welcome Center, boasted 35 floats and gave away 900 pre-filled bags of candy to children.
Kwali Glass, 13, was one of the happy candy bag recipients. He attended the parade with his mom, Sharain Colbert, with a singular purpose: “I came out here for the candy.”
However, 7-year Aubree Knight didn’t have time to fuss over candy. “I love the fire trucks,” she said, “because they are so loud.” Knight’s grandmother, Annette Downer, laughed, adding, “And the good-looking men that ride on them.”
Shirley Allen and her daughter, Kim, came down on the crisp, clear evening to help cheer on her grandson, Isaiah Allen.
“He plays saxophone in the marching band,” she said, pulling on a large blanket that swallowed her shoulders.
“I wear this to all of his ballgames, too.”
For Katie Truett, the parade is a family tradition.
“We’ve been coming for years. We always stand on Cherry and Main streets,” she said.
That corner holds special significance to the family. Truett’s great-great uncle, Gerald Truett, once owned the Sinclair Station that sat behind them as they cheered on the parade. Truett marched in the parade herself several years ago, playing trumpet for the Andrews Marching Band.
It was perhaps fortuitous that the parade got off to a tardy start. This year’s theme required all participants to decorate their floats with Christmas lights.
As the sky grew darker, the parade grew brighter. Robert Hamilton, celebrating 14 years as the sound man, blasted old-timey Christmas music from his “Gig Rig,” causing many to dance on the sidewalks.
The Card family waited the longest for the parade to start. They were the first family to set up their chairs along the route. Garilynn and Cary Card, along with their three children, drive in from Blairsville, Ga., every year.
Card said, “We are experienced parade people,” reporting that they attend parades in Blairsville and Hiwassee Dam, but Andrews holds a special place in their hearts.
“The Andrews Christmas Parade,” he said, “is the best one.”