Rocky Top Christmas parade draws a crowd on chilly night
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Santa, reindeer and a snowman roll through Rocky Top during Friday night’s Christmas parade. - G. Chambers Williams III
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The crowd watches as fire trucks pass them on Main Street in Rocky Top during Friday night’s Christmas parade. - G. Chambers Williams III
With temperature hovering around 40 degrees, people crowded along Main Street in Rocky Top last Friday night for the annual Christmas parade, under mostly clear skies.
Sponsored by the Rocky Top Community Foundation with financial support from the city, the parade began at 7 p.m. in the area of Lake City Middle School and moved down Main Street to the Interstate 75, Exit 129 interchange.
Floats, fire trucks, the Anderson County High School Band, cheerleaders, dance groups, festively lighted off-road vehicles and lots more were featured in the parade, which lasted for nearly an hour.
Candy, of course, was a favorite with the kids – and many grown-ups, as well – as lots of it was tossed from the parade participants into the crowds along the way.
The previous night, Thursday, there was a Christmas tree lighting ceremony at Rocky Top City Hall, which also brought out a crowd of its own.