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Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. The “Most Original Costumes and Decorations” category winner in the Dec. 3 downtown Clayton Christmas Parade was five female club members dressed as feathery pink dancing flamingos from the Kiwanis Club of Rabun County. -
Enoch Autry/The Clayton Tribune. For the Mountain City Playhouse float with Jake McCrackin playing his guitar, Veronica Dono, Sharon Williams, Jennifer Miller, Courtney Jarriel, Christopher Woodall and Samantha Joedicke line dance to the music for the judges near The Rock House on North Main Street in Clayton.
The forecast did not look favorable for an outdoor parade on Dec. 3, but some Clayton received a little extra Christmas spirit as the rain stopped in time for the “12 Days of Rabun County Christmas” event on Main Street.
“It was good for a rainy Saturday for the way it started out,” said Rick Story, Forward Rabun director of development, after 41 entries made their way through downtown Clayton in front of hundreds who risked the threat of rain for the parade.
This year the Chamber of Commerce of Rabun County and Forward Rabun parade was switched to an earlier time of 2 p.m. and the route instead went south on Main Street. Previous years had the parade beginning at 5 p.m. and heading north.
During the morning hours,
Clayton and Rabun County got doused with rainfall and at 2 p.m. it was a 50/50 chance for more rain to fall on parade-goers, entrants, Santa Claus and, yes, the Grinch.
Story said he was attending a Saturday meeting at Foxfire in Mountain City earlier in the day and he was continuously heard raindrops pelleting the tin roof. It got him concerned more rainfall was coming just down the road.
“The weather was pretty rainy,” Story said. “All things considered; I think it went well. We had great floats and great participation. Any time the community pulls together, it gives me a warm-and-fuzzy feeling. It reminds me of my childhood and past parades.
“Hopefully the parade really put people in the Christmas spirit,” said Story, who again served with Suzie Nixon Flaherty as parade announcers at The Rock House as judges voted on the best entries in the parade.
Story said the start of the parade was shifted to the afternoon to “get more people downtown so they could visit all the businesses.”
People could be seen shopping at stores and eating at restaurants before and after the parade.
This year the lighted “Candle” was brought back by the City of Clayton. Reeves Hardware at the corner of Main Street and Savannah Street agreed to have the historical candle positioned atop its business.
“I thought it good event,” said Story, who with other Chamber of Commerce of Rabun County representatives reviewed how other communities conducted their annual parades.
Story said area Christmas parades varied in being earlier and later in the day.
This year’s grand marshals were Clayton Mayor Kurt Cannon and his wife Cathy Cannon. This is Cannon’s first year as the city’s mayor.
While the Cannons helped lead the parade as the marshals, the City of Clayton float concluded the parade with St. Nick.
A local group of selected judges voted on eight different categories.
As for the category “Closest to theme ‘12 Days of Rabun County Christmas,’” the winner was the Rotary Club of Clayton. Second place was earned by Fight Abuse In The Home or FAITH float who had the Grinch among its riders on the entry.
That sneaky fast-moving Grinch also popped up on the Watersport Central.
The “Most Original Costumes and Decorations” category winner was five female club members dressed as feathery pink dancing flamingos from the Kiwanis Club of Rabun County. Second place was awarded to the Rotary Club of Clayton and third was presented to the Mountain City Playhouse.
In the “Best Musical Vocalist” category, the winner was Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School as the vocalists were RGNS students riding on the float. Second place was awarded to the Rotary Club of Clayton as Ishmael Santos, Bella Ciochetti, Joset Vernes and Steve Webster sang Christmas tunes. Third place was presented to the Mountain City Playhouse.
The “Cars” category winner was Joe Bradley’s 1949 red Chevrolet custom. Second was presented to Ronald Whitmire’s 1955 yellow and white Chevrolet and third was awarded to the Rabun County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4570.
As for the “Walkers” category, the winner was Boy Scouts of America Troop 19, Troop 6, and Pack 6. Second place was awarded to Blue Ridge Activity & Tumbling Center and third was presented to the Rabun Entertainers.
In the “Bands” category, the winner was Rabun County High School and second place was awarded to Franklin (N.C.) High School.
The “Non-profit” category winner was the Rotary Club of Clayton which had vocalists on its float and Rotary members handing out toothbrushes and toothpaste as part of its Community Dental program.
Second place for the non-profits was presented to FAITH and third was awarded to the Kiwanis Club of Rabun County.
The “Church” category winner was Wolffork Christian Fellowship Church. Second place was awarded to Chechero Baptist Church and third place was presented to Clayton Presbyterian Church.