HolidayTradition
Every year for the past 10 years, Michael and Loretta Crawford have gathered their family and friends together at the intersection of Cunningham and Main streets to watch the City of Butler's annual Spirit of Christmas Parade.
This year was no different.
“It's just the whole Christmas tradition,” Loretta Crawford said. “That's what life is all about, making memories for these kids. My mother (Julia Conner) passed away, and when she passed away she said, 'What's the one thing I left you with?' And it's tradition.”
Crawford of Butler and other adults passed around hot cocoa and candy canes as more and more family members joined them in the minutes before the parade began on Saturday.
“It's fun and you get to see Santa Claus, and you get hot cocoa,” said family member Madison Parker, 11.
Other families attending the parade also spoke of tradition. Lisa Dimit of Allison Park gladly makes the 30-minute drive annually for the event.
“All of our family is up here, so it's just a fun way for all of our family to get together and get the Christmas season started,” she said.
Dimit's son, Christopher, was excited to see Santa Claus.
“The parade is awesome,” he said. “It's one of the best parades I've ever been to.”
Tina Heardlein of Butler Township has been coming to the parade for years.
“It's a tradition,” she said. “I grew up in Butler. (I enjoy) all of it. Just the whole Christmas spirit, coming in, hearing the bands and seeing the different floats.”
Her husband, Bill Heardlein, said he enjoyed being there with his family.
“I spent too many years working,” he said.
The parade featured many well-received floats and attractions. The Karns City High School marching band was one of the first to go, starting things off with a rousing rendition of “Jingle Bells.”
From there, some of the highlights included multiple Christmas tree floats, an Advent-themed float with giant candles that were lit, and a musically themed float sponsored by Sunnyview Nursing Rehabilitation Center with people dancing happily atop it.There also were dogs adorned with Christmas lights and bells which drew adoration from the crowd.Following the parade, the large Christmas tree in Diamond Park was lit up to conclude the day's events.Loretta Crawford was happy to see the effort put into this year's parade.“I think it's great,” she said. “To me it seems longer this year. There's more of a variety of different things. It's nice to see the whole town a lot more involved in the parade.”
