OTTAWA — The Welcome Santa Christmas Parade held Sunday in downtown Ottawa featured hundreds of local residents dressed in a variety of costumes ranging from biblical figures to clowns.
The event was open to all businesses, organizations, churches, schools and public officials who marched toward the Ottawa Municipal Building parking lot where Santa Claus was waiting to take photographs with children.
Many dressed in Santa hats and elf costumes, going along with the parade’s Christmas theme. Others, however, took a more unique approach.
A handful of middle and elementary students at SS. Peter & Paul Catholic School dressed as Lego characters, flanking a float that had a special theme.
“Our theme is ‘build faith in Jesus,’” said Trista Krouse, a booster member at the school. “We have building blocks on the float with every student’s name on it. They all helped design the float.”
The school has been participating in the parade for more than 20 years, Krouse said. Each year, students are tasked with picking the float’s theme. This year, second-grader Ayden Krouse came up with the building block idea.
“The kids love it,” Krouse said about the parade. “It gets you in the spirit, and it’s a great holiday event for the community.”
Passing out candy to children while riding a small motorcycle, Findlay resident Jon Jones was part of an eight-man team who dressed as clowns.
The Findlay Shriner Clowns participate in two parades a week from May until December as a way to raise money for Shriners Hospitals.
“We get donations for going to parades and making balloon animals for the kids, and all that money goes to our Shriners Hospitals to help keep them open,” said Jones, who has been a Shriner clown since 1953.
Representing Breakthrough Harvest Church, a cast of 6- to 12-year-olds dressed as biblical figures at Sunday’s parade. They rode on a float that mirrored the Nativity scene in the Bible, which is also the theme of the church’s upcoming play.
“We are having a children’s Christmas play on Dec. 20 at the church, so we thought it’d be nice to pass out candy to the kids and invite them to our play,” said Ruby McGowan, a member of the church.
Children dressed as the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, shepherds, and angels, all of which will be featured in next month’s play.
“It’s nice for us to reach out and be part of the community,” said church Pastor Jerry Meyer. “It also gets the kids ready for Christmas, even though I think they’ve been ready for months.”
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