It's Happening: The Longest Mile
By Julie Perine on December 04, 2016 from It’s Happening
The route was only about a mile, but it stretched out to take the better part of an hour. Temperatures only reached into the high 30s, but the scenes along the way were heartwarming. When you’re in the procession, you might not see all the parade action, but you get to see all of the smiling community members who line up along the streets to watch.
Though cold, it was clear that our city residents were in the Christmas spirit. Many sported holiday gear and headwear – from whimsical reindeer antlers and Santa hats to fur tams and cable knit hats topped with pom poms. Of course, winter coats were out in full force. Some were wrapped in blankets and drinking hot chocolate. Kids scurried to pick up candy, some enjoying a candy cane as they took in the parade. One little girl in polka dot pants jumped up and down – perhaps to keep warm, but more likely to show her excitement. Some waved or clapped their hands. Some took photos and video. Others were verbal, shouting holiday greetings to parade participants; sometimes calling them out by name. A few followed parade units across Main Street, but most stood – or set up their lawn chairs - in one spot. In fact, as I’ve noticed through the years, some families have a designated spot along the route from which to watch.
Under the direction of the rockin' Mike Hess, the Bridgeport High School Alumni Band – with whom I marched – again played a “Joy to the World” medley. Before we left our post at Oliverio’s Ristorante, some 50- and 60-year-old majorettes were going over our routine – yep, the same one we do every single year – and talking about just how lucky we all were. There we were, just as proud of our alma mater as we were back then; marching in our hometown to a parade tune based on a Christmas hymn. We had aches and pains that weren’t around back then and some lines around the eyes, but the tradeoff was that we were sharing the experience with our kids and grandkids; some included in those smiling faces along the route and some 
even carrying our alumni band banner.
Oh my.
It’s all kind of fairy tale-like, I know. And there might have been some magic in those Santa hats we wore. But again, thank you Bridgeport for your spirit of community. We all have quite a gift.
Parks and Recreation Director Don Burton estimates that about 1,000 came out for Saturday’s annual Christmas parade. Hundreds participated; about 50 units which included high school, middle school and youth sports teams – some county and state champions - civic clubs and churches, dance teams, scout troops, little beauty queens, the BHS Marching Band and, of course, Santa and Mrs. Claus who hung around the Benedum Civic Center afterwards to have hot cocoa with area kids who whispered their Christmas wishes into their ears.
Before the parade action, Mary Ann Renzelli and Stacy Bolle hosted the annual Jingle Bell Jog which yielded 67 spirited runners and walkers and more than 90 toys to be distributed through the Salvation Army this holiday season. A highlight, Renzelli said, was Bridgeport Lions Club member Carl Hatfield who ran the 5K dressed as a lion.
That Lions Club was busy as members had gotten up quite early to get the pancakes on for the annual pancake feed. According to club member – who also happens to be a BHS alumni majorette – said about 350 turned out for pancakes – 400 of them. Money raised will be put right back into projects to benefit the community.
Jingle Bell Jog top finishers were (men) Drake Bolle (20:31); Joshua Gervais (23.39) and Tom Fishbaugh (23:50) and (women) Michelle Daugherty (25:30), Laura O’Hara (26:33) and Beth Hess (27:30).
Julie Perine can be reached at 304-848-7200, julie@connect-bridgeport.com or follow @JuliePerine on Twitter! 
More "It's Happening" HERE.
Top/cover photo is by Don Burton; picture of Mike Hess is by Beth Hess; photo of Craig Liebig of Bridgeport Lions Club and of Mary Ann Renzelli, Carl Hatfield and Stacy Bolle are courtesy of Renzelli.
See a gallery of Christmas Parade photos by Ben Queen Photography HERE.
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