GOACC Announces Parade Winners
GOACC Announces Parade Winners
38th Annual Santa Claus Lane Parade Float Winners are In
OLEAN – Sixty-four units and more than 1,104 adults and children participated and were in the 38th Annual Santa Claus Lane Parade Friday, November 24 in downtown Olean. Paula Snyder, Jamestown Community College; Paula Bernstein, Tri-County Arts Council and Max Bullers, Olean resident; did judging for this season’s parade. More than 2,500 people watched the parade go down both sides of the street.
The Blitzen Award, sponsored by Times Herald was awarded to Olean General Hospital as the most photogenic float or unit; The Seasons Greetings Award, sponsored by Milestone Financial Strategies was awarded to Operation Warm Hearts of Olean to the best newcomer to the parade; The Rudolph Award, sponsored by National Grid Co., was awarded to Paul Brown Motors for the float with the most or best use of lights; The Snowflake Award, sponsored by the Street Classics Car Club was awarded to Olean Youth Husky Football and Cheerleaders for the unit with the most participants in the parade; Angelic Spirit Award, sponsored by Mandy’s Flowers, was awarded to Christ United Methodist as the most spiritual/religious float or unit. The Elves Award, sponsored by Owl Home Groups, was awarded to Intandem for to the float or unit that best typifies the holiday through the eyes of a child; Jingle Bells Award, sponsored by Cayas Canopies, was awarded to Olean High School Marching Band; the best theatrical (music/dance) float or unit; and The Sleigh Award, presented by Nick Shembeda Plumbing, was awarded to Shinglehouse Volunteer Fire Department as the most decorated larger truck (fire truck, flatbed, utility vehicles, etc.)
“Loads of people lined up the streets – air traffic control out of the North Pole had Santa arriving into the Olean airport a little late this year – but Mr. and Mrs. Claus got on the Olean Fire Department bucket truck and turned on the lights just after 7:30 p.m.,” stated Donna Woodruff, a Santa Claus Lane committee member.
The greater Olean area is a well-diversified community and as such, people from all walks of life and religion attended the parade to celebrate the gifts and graces of the holiday seasons. It is truly a night when the community comes together. GOACC is also encouraging organizations to participate in the Portville Holiday Celebration Parade AND the Allegany Holiday Celebration scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, November 25 at dusk. For more information, call Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce at 716-372-4433 or email santa@oleanny.com.