Photo by Mike Rosier/Publisher

The Town of Edgefield Christmas Parade makes its way down Main Street.

Hundreds of Edgefield County residents (and some from beyond her borders) stood side by side in the gleaming sunshine Sunday afternoon for the annual Edgefield Christmas Parade.

As the head of the parade Ñ led by Police Chief Ronnie Carter - rounded into view, shouts of "here it comes" began to echo up and down the length and breadth of Main St.

The parade featured well over fifty entries this year, with Becky Turner serving as the Grand Marshal.
Calvin Henderson of Music by Calvin and Kerry Ann Klein of Escape Day Spa were the guest emcees.
One by one, the beautifully decorated floats moved by the main stage.

They included (but were not limited to) beauty queens and pageant winners from Strom Thurmond High School and Wardlaw Academy, the Region 3-AA champion Strom Thurmond Rebels football team, the "Rebel Regiment" Marching Band, IMAGINE a Drug Free Community, Living Word Fellowship, JET Middle School football team and cheerleaders, the Southern Eagles Motorcycle Club of Edgefield, Women In Unity, local dignitaries such as State Senator Shane Massey, State Representative Bill Clyburn, and Edgefield County Council Chairman and vice-chair Monroe Kneece and Willie Bright among many more.

All county fire departments were represented as well.

Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for as children jumped for joy at the arrival of the jolly old elf dressed in red - Santa Claus. Santa made his way slowly up Main St., throwing out baskets of candy for the little ones until his reserves were finally exhausted near the main stage.

Still, Santa hadn't run dry before kids had bulging bags and pockets to show for his visit.

The fire engine then whisked him away to a secret stable nearby where he took to his sleigh and reindeer. The Town of Edgefield provided hot chocolate and cookies to those attending the festivities.