A night under the lights: Christmas parade draws big crowds to downtown Bedford

Carol Johnson, The Times-Mail
·2 min read

BEDFORD — With more than 100 units all lit up in Christmas lights, the downtown Bedford Christmas parade circled the square Saturday night as crowds turned out to take part in the local tradition.

On a night that was unseasonably warm, big crowds were all along the route. From grand marshal Clarence Brown leading the way, to a group of bagpipers, about 30 Jeeps aglow in lights, and Santa Claus as the final float, the parade had something for everyone.

Sarah Turpen, parade committee chairwoman, said community response to the parade after it was canceled last year because of COVID was great to see.

"The number of entries, the quality of the lights on the entries, and the attendance was one of the largest crowds I've seen and the beautiful weather didn't hurt either," Turpen said.

Sponsored by Bedford Revitalization Inc., there were also activities on the square prior to the parade. Live reindeer, craft vendors and food trucks as well as visits with Santa Claus in Harp Commons drew lots of shoppers and families to downtown.

"At the end of day, the community coming out to support this makes all the difference," she said. "Whether you purchased something from a vendor, or were in the parade, we can't do it without the support of the community."

In addition to the work of the parade committee and volunteers, Turpen thanked the city of Bedford, the Bedford Lions Club and Lawrence County Commissioners for partnering with BRI on Christmas Around the Square.

Top entries

Judges deemed the following entries best in their categories:

Antique car: Bob and Brenda Wilson, 1968 Chevelle

Antique truck: Max's LLC, 1929 Chevrolet fire truck

Church: Life Missions Ministries

Dallas Bolton and his grandson Marko dela Cruz make their way down 16th Street on a 1947 Farmall during the Bedford Christmas parade Saturday. The pair won "Best Tractor" award in the parade.
Dallas Bolton and his grandson Marko dela Cruz make their way down 16th Street on a 1947 Farmall during the Bedford Christmas parade Saturday. The pair won "Best Tractor" award in the parade.

Equestrian: Painting a Sunny New Legacy, Tessa Lewis

Fire truck: Huron Volunteer Fire Department

The Max's LLC entry, a 1929 Chevrolet fire engine that was restored by teenagers Blake and Ryan Max, was the winning entry in the antique truck category.
The Max's LLC entry, a 1929 Chevrolet fire engine that was restored by teenagers Blake and Ryan Max, was the winning entry in the antique truck category.

Award of Excellence (commercial): Innovative Landscaping

Most festive (commercial): Midwest Lakes Marine

One of the Bedford Jeepers rounds the square during the Bedford Christmas parade Saturday. The Jeepers, a club formed in 2021 by Bedford Jeep enthusiasts, had about 30 vehicles as part of their entry, and the club won "Best Overall" award in the parade.
One of the Bedford Jeepers rounds the square during the Bedford Christmas parade Saturday. The Jeepers, a club formed in 2021 by Bedford Jeep enthusiasts, had about 30 vehicles as part of their entry, and the club won "Best Overall" award in the parade.

Award of Excellence (non-commercial): Day for Lawrence County Sheriff

Most festive (non-commercial): North Lawrence Career Center HOSA

Musical: Bedford North Lawrence Marching Stars

Tractors: Marko and Papaw

Vehicle: Christmas Challenger

Best overall: Bedford Jeepers

Contact Times-Mail Staff Writer Carol Johnson at cjohnson@tmnews.com or 812-277-7252.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Mail: Christmas parade draws big crowds to downtown Bedford