Temperatures dipped down enough for snowy and icy conditions on Saturday causing Camden’s “Christmas Stories” Parade to be moved, but scores of people still turned out for the annual event on Sunday afternoon.
Camden favorite Marcus Bond served as Grand Marshal and waved from the sheriff’s department’s 4×4 truck. A plethora of police cars, firetrucks and emergency vehicles joined them. Due to the weather, float counts were down and the band was noticeably absent, but several decorated trailers delighted children alongside of Main St.
Benton County Chamber Executive Director Jenna Cole Wilson said, “The float by Camden Healthcare and Rehab won grand champion honors this year. First place winners were CJH Fishing Team, Talon Stone and Hayden Jenette (float), Dianna Ross (vehicle), Ada and Andrew Acres (horse), and Dwayne Flower’s The Shop (miscellaneous). In second place were First United Pentecostal Church (float), Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park (vehicle), Chris Patterson (horse), and Girl Scouts (miscellaneous). Third place entrants were Benton County Animal Shelter (float), E911 (vehicle), Lillianna Stepp (horse), and Bruce Griffey (miscellaneous). Parade judges included Camden Mayor Roger Pafford, Administrative Assistant to the Benton County Mayor Ashley Travis, and very special judge Kinsley Stone.
Santa Claus was the grand finale and afterwards children scurried down the sidewalks picking up the remaining candy.
Cole Wilson said, “I believe that it was another successful year at the Christmas parade. We did have a few less entrants which was due to the weather; however, that did not deter many parade watchers. We had many entrants who were excited to be in the parade and put in a lot of work on their floats and entries. The Christmas Spirit was alive and well in Benton County!”
