'Comic Book Christmas': Superheroes everywhere at Rochester Holiday Parade

Karen Dandurant, Fosters Daily Democrat
·2 min read

ROCHESTER — Delainy Robbins, 7, was a cute and fierce little Batgirl on the float "Christmas in Gotham" for Sunday's Holiday Parade.

The costume and float were fitting for the "Comic Book Christmas" theme.

"We used to have a gingerbread house for the parade, but that was falling part," said Devin Robbins, Delainy's mom. "We liked the theme this year so the Robbins family went to work."

The effort paid off with the float winning both the Best in Parade and Best in Community awards for the 2021 parade, which has been organized by the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce since the mid-1980s.

Delainy Robbins, 7, is Batgirl on the float "Christmas in Gotham" for Rochester's Holiday Parade Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021. The float was winner of both Best in Parade and Best in Community for the parade themed "A Comic Book Christmas."
Delainy Robbins, 7, is Batgirl on the float "Christmas in Gotham" for Rochester's Holiday Parade Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021. The float was winner of both Best in Parade and Best in Community for the parade themed "A Comic Book Christmas."

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Catwoman (Lisa Comeau) and The Hulk (Brian Comeau) said they loved the theme. Both are longtime parade fans who said they like to come out to support their community.

Superheroes were everywhere in and around the parade, including those from the popular Jetpack Comics shop who handed out comic books. There were Captain Marvel, the Joker from Batman, Ego the Living Planet, Mantis, Star-Lord and Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy, to name a few.

Super Horse and Invisible Horse, with their assistants, all 10 years old, Madison Colby, Adrianna Bolduc, and Jess Dowaliby at the Rochester Holiday Parade Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021.
Super Horse and Invisible Horse, with their assistants, all 10 years old, Madison Colby, Adrianna Bolduc, and Jess Dowaliby at the Rochester Holiday Parade Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021.

Also seen were Clydesdale Super Horse and Invisible Horse. Of course, Santa Claus was the grand finale for the parade.

Marching bands from throughout New Hampshire and Maine participated, including bands from Spaulding High School in Rochester, Wells (Maine) High School and the Claddagh Mhor Pipe Band from Portland, Maine.

The Robbins family float wasn't the only prize winner. The organization division first-place award went to Rochester Youth Spirit, with second place to Girl Scouts - Community 223 and third to American Legion Post 7. The commercial division winner was Studio 109 Dance, Voice and Drama, and second place went to to KOA - Lebanon and Strafford.

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Wonder Woman and Wonder Girl of Studio 109, Josie Gillette and Keilee Carlson, during the Rochester Holiday Parade Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021.
Wonder Woman and Wonder Girl of Studio 109, Josie Gillette and Keilee Carlson, during the Rochester Holiday Parade Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021.

This year's citizen grand marshals for the parade were 2021 Citizens of the Year Alicia Frye and Jeanne Varney Grover. The nonprofit grand marshal was Monarch School of New England. The business grand marshal was The Rochester Voice.

The chamber gave credit to Service Credit Union, the underwriter for the event in 2021.

This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Rochester NH Holiday Parade: 'A Comic Book Christmas'