By Rikki Cason<br><a href="mailto:rikki.cason@journal-register.com">E-mail Rikki</a>
MEDINA — Standing shoulder-to-shoulder up and down Main Street, hundreds of residents crammed the streets of Medina on Saturday for the Parade of Lights. With more than 25 entrees all covered in Christmas lights, the first parade of its kind in the village brought something new and exciting to the families that watched.
“I thought it was wonderful,” said Medina resident Rose Allen. “I can’t wait for next year. It’s good for the village.”
Medina resident Rich Palone said that events like this are great for families and the community.
“We always come out to the parades,” he said. “It brings everybody together.”
Winning the grand prize for the Parade of Lights entry was Weed Man, of Albion, receiving $200. Awarded Santa’s Pick was the Medina Mustang Marching Band, receiving $100, and winning honorable mention was the Orleans County Goatherders, receiving $50.
The parade — followed by the tree lighting in Rotary Park — ended the day of festivities at Medina’s Olde Tyme Christmas Celebration.
“It was great, great, great, great, great,” said organizer Lisa Trippensee of the turnout. “The parade was great. There were a lot of out-of-towners, which was great. There was over 500 people throughout the day.”
The Olde Tyme Christmas Celebration began at 10 a.m. Saturday with a day full of activities, music and dance performances, shopping and, of course, Santa.
The Santa’s Arrival Parade kicked off the event as the jolly man in red arrived to greet children. Also part of the parade was the Medina Mustang Band playing Christmas tunes, the Dance Theater performing and the Pets on Parade.
“It was nice to see people that have never met before working together to achieve a common goal,” Trippensee said. “It was not competition nor a personal agenda. Just pure and simple: brining recognition to Medina, to our already rich community. I mean, look at the history alone, not to mention all the niche businesses. We all should be proud of what we have and what we can still accomplish.”
In addition to attracting more people and business to the downtown area, Trippensee said she thought it was wonderful to see businesses participate in an event like this for the first time. She said that just by decorating their windows, it shows what great of a community Medina is.
“It brings people out to local businesses,” Allen said. “We have a lot to offer here. I love the shops on Main Street.”
Lyndonville resident Carla Woodworth said that she enjoyed the event because it depicts the old-fashion values of Christmas.
The Christmas Tour of Homes, sponsored by the Medina Historical Society, brought between 40 and 50 people into each participant’s home or business for the tour. Also a success was the “Warm Winter Wonders” artist reception at the Shirt Factory Cafe. The event featured the work of Wesley Hansen, Ruth Marble, James Nicholson and Jennifer Scott.
Contact reporter Rikki Cason at 798-1400, ext. 8227.
