Reidsville’s got some crazy floats
Reidsville residents will bundle up in warm clothes and watch the Christmas Parade Saturday night. While the event is fun, if not chilly, for the spectators, organizing a parade takes more than an evening’s work.
Matt Smith finds time between his jobs as assistant pastor and station manager of WGSR to chair the Reidsville Christmas parade committee. He took over the job last year with no experience but busied himself with the long planning period. The parade went smoothly and Smith was excited about working with the committee this year.
Smith said there are 50 entrants and about 15 officials riding in cars scheduled for the parade. The Reidsville High School marching band will perform and a mass of horseback riders will accompany Santa down Settle Street, from the mall to the monument.
Some commercial floats seen tomorrow night will have all the polish of a professional. But those lack something, Smith said, and each year the event is complemented by examples of funny, creative and beautiful floats made by the people of Reidsville.
Todd Vernon is proud of his contribution.
“It’s a 12-feet tall cow,” Vernon said. “It’s permanently attached, bolted to a trailer. (Pet Dairy) bought seven of them originally. We got them from a place in Wisconsin. They make them there because there’s a large dairy industry there.”
Vernon will decorate the cow with bows, lights and tinsel. The cow usually travels to county schools where Vernon educates children about dairy farms.
“It’s a huge cow,” he said. “When those kids see it, they just eat that up.”
He’s eager to see what reception the giant cow will receive at the parade. He’s had it only two months and loves seeing people react to the sight of a giant cow speeding down N.C. 14.
Henry Mullins has overseen the creation of Grooms Missionary Baptist Church’s float for years. This year, Mullins said the float will focus on Joseph and Mary, represented by the pastor Tommy Williamson and his wife, Pauline.
“The float’s about a five or six hour project,” Mullins said. “Yesterday, we put on the carpet and put curtains around the edge. Friday, we’ll put the little church on there.”
Mullins said volunteers from the church pay careful attention to decoration. The care put into its presentation paid off in the past. The church won more than a few prizes for their homemade float.
More than 300 students of Melanie Paschal’s Dance Creations will march behind a float featuring the studio’s smallest dancers.
“It gives the kids a chance to show off what they’ve learned and it’s great advertising for us,” said owner and instructor Melanie Paschal-Wiles. “This is our 13th year in the parade, and the kids really love it.”
Though she would not divulge the theme of their float and dance routine, she did say they will be doing things a little differently than in past years.
“We’re not going to be wearing Christmas colors,” she said. “But that’s all I can tell you.”
And after years of parade tradition, Sheriff Sam Page will again be riding Roscoe the Mule in both the Reidsville and Eden Christmas parades.
“I’ve been riding him in parades ever since I was elected,” Page said. “He’s a good-natured animal.”
Page said he is glad to team up with the 15 year-old, 17 hand-high, 1,200 pound mule. Roscoe is sure-footed and relaxed in even the noisiest environments. He has ridden Roscoe during man-hunts and searches with the sheriff’s department, and depends on the mule’s calm-nature.
“He’s such a pretty animal. I don’t ride just anybody’s horse. I have to get to know it first,” Page said. “When you’re riding in a parade where a lot of things might scare an animal, you want to know he’s going stay calm. Roscoe doesn’t get excited in crowds. Well, he does, but not in the bad way.”
Smith said this year will be successful, even if the planning stages have hit a few snags. Last year, he got applications to interested entrants within a few days. This year Smith was dismayed to find almost half the mailed applications reached their destinations days before the parade.
“I’m used to surprises and challenges,” Smith said.
Some people were not able to get their application in on time, so Smith will be allowing entries up until the parade starts. The only cost for being in the highlight of Reidsville’s holiday celebration is a $40 entrance fee.
He said he’s looking forward to the creative floats Reidsville will show off Saturday night.
“One year, a skate shop built skateboard ramps on a float and had people doing tricks on it during the parade,” he said.
A paintball range approached Smith with the idea for a paintball themed float, but they got a bit carried away.
“I told them it was fine as long as they didn’t shoot the paintballs,” he said.
Though it has it’s difficult moments, Smith said he is happy to help make the parade happen this year.
“It’s the spirit of Christmas. It’s the beauty of the season,” Smith said. “This is my way of saying Merry Christmas to the people of Reidsville.”
The Reidsville Christmas parade is sponsored by WSGS Star 39 and will start at 6:30 p.m., Saturday and last until 8:30 p.m.
Heather J. Smith
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