FALL RIVER: It was the coldest night yet of the winter, but that didn’t stop thousands from lining the streets for the inaugural Christmas on the Canal Fall River Lions Christmas Parade of Lights on Dec. 9.
On top of the parade, which organizer Paula Beck says had the most entries to date in a parade at a high number of 25 -plus, there was the annual Christmas tree lighting in the green common space next to the Tim’s at the Fall River Shopping Plaza.
PHOTOS: Christmas on the Canal dazzles Fall River
The tree lighting was put on by the Fall River and Area Business Association (FRABA) with various member businesses sponsoring the event.
Lively’s was the sponsor of the tree this year, while ADT Security, 9 Round, the Fall River Minor Football Association, and CSD Security Systems and Electrical sponsored major components of the event. MLA Bill Horne donated the Nintendo Switch for the draw, which was won by Oliver Horne of Fall River.
Kinetesis sponsored and manned the snack table where there were Timbits donated from Tim Hortons and hot chocolate from Sobeys Fall River.
The voices of the kids from the Joyful Sounds choir warmed up the crowd with sounds of the season.
There was also an opportunity to place your letter to Santa in Santa’s mailbox; awards handed out to three of the parade float entries as selected by the judges for the respective categories; and food collected along the route for the Lions Christmas Express.
The Lockview High Dragons girls hockey team handed out free glow sticks to people along the route.
