Crowds Gather For South Zanesville Christmas Parade
With Christmas nearly a month away it is time for the Zanesville South Business Association Annual Christmas Parade.
Families lined Maysville Pike as far as the eye can see to get a front row seat for the annual Christmas parade. Children with bags in hand, were waiting for the free candy and of course their favorite parts of the parade.
"I like to see the floats, all of the floats," says Charity Maziar.
There are 98 groups in the South Zanesville Christmas Parade with more than 400 people participating and everyone we spoke to says being a part of this parade is just family tradition
Dana James attends the parade every year with his family and says there is nothing else like it in Zanesville. While his daughter collects bags full of candy, he joys the goodies being passed out for parents
"All the good things like Sheetz gives out the free T-shirts the free sandwich coupon," says James.
Local heroes Officer Mike Schiele and K-9 Bosco had the honor of being the Grand Marshalls for the parade this year. Officer Schiele says it is privilege to lead the parade and meet the people who have supported himself and Bosco.
"It is obviously good for the community to come out and see how all their help has paid off with Bosco and it is an honor to be asked to be Grand Marshall, this is a pretty big deal for Zanesville and South Zanesville and Muskingum County and we are honored to be part of it," says Officer Schiele.
The parade included everything from animals to high school bands to beauty queens and of course… fire trucks.
"It is a great time every year to get together with all the other departments and put on a good show for the community," says Capt. Craig Know with the Newton Fire Department.
Capt. Knox says children never get tired of the roar of the fire engine sirens. For parade watchers the whole event took just over an hour and many say they can’t wait for next year.
The South Zanesville Christmas Parade will re-air on WHIZ this Thursday on Thanksgiving at 4 PM.
Katie Jeffries
