Marching bands, glittering floats entertain on Main

December 01, 2007 10:46 pm

— By Debbie Robinson
news@joplinglobe.com
The distribution of pretzels was a new twist this year as marching bands and glittering floats entertained the community members lined along Main Street during the hourlong annual Joplin Jaycees Christmas parade.
This year’s theme, “Have a Hearty Christmas and a Healthy New Year,” was chosen because St. John’s Regional Medical Center was the sponsor. Some of the entries tossed healthy snacks, pretzels and fruit wraps.
Children didn’t go away with sad faces though, because many of the parade participants threw the traditional candy as floats, twirling groups and marching bands passed by along the parade route from 20th Street to First Street.
Grand Marshal Debbie Linnes, president of St. John’s Regional Medical Center, rode in the parade.
Christine Smith, of Joplin, brought her two daughters, Lakeshia, 18, and Faith, 11, to watch the parade.
They have been watching the parade each year for about 10 years, she said.
For Faith, candy was the favorite.
Her sister said she enjoyed everything, including the bands and floats.
The three arrived about an hour before the parade made its way to the downtown area and placed blankets on the curb.
Others along the parade route sat in folding chairs. A blustery wind had many wearing knit hats and gloves.
Riley Hirshey, 11, of Carthage, watched the parade with his mother, Misty Hirshey.
Candy was also Riley’s favorite part, he said.
For his mother, floats always were a favorite, she said, even though they aren’t as elaborate as in years past.
“Floats aren’t like they used to be when you stuffed chicken wire with newspapers and spray-painted them,” she said.
Some of the more unique floats included a float sponsored by Joplin Supply Co.
The float, the “Claus Coaster,” had a large, lighted wheel and stuffed bears sitting in toilets.
The Calvary Church of the Nazarene float featured a large, framed house decorated in twinkling blue lights and a band performing holiday songs.
Other parade entries included a horse-drawn carriage, a float sponsored by The Flip Shop that featured someone jumping and doing flips on a trampoline, and a float sponsored by Franklin Early Childhood that had a lighted wand and a rabbit coming out of a box. The float was titled, “The Magic of Christmas.”
Marching bands that participated were Missouri Southern State University, Joplin High School, Memorial Middle School, North Middle School and South Middle School.
The parade finale was Santa Claus on top a fire truck wishing everyone a “Merry Christmas.”

Parade winners
Church category: First place, Calvary Church of the Nazarene; second place, God’s Christian Harvest.
Community float: First place, The Flip Shop; second place, New Dimensions School of Hair Design.
Corporate float: First place, Joplin Supply Co.; second place, Southwest Missouri Bank.
Scout category: First place, Frontier Girls.
Junior band with less than 70 members: First place, North Middle School; second place, Memorial Middle School; third place, South Middle School.
Military category: First place, Joplin Firefighters Honor Guard; second place, Redings Mill Fire Department.
Novelty II category: First place, Joplin Youth Football Association; second place, Kiwanis Helping with Apples.
Novelty I category: First place, Southern Bells; second place, Power Sports of Joplin.
Senior band with more than 70 members: First place, Joplin High School.
Exhibition band: First place, Missouri Southern State University.
Twirler category: First place, Angela’s Twirling Angels; second place, Ovation Studios; third place, Show-Me Stars.

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