Jack Frost parade draws well

By CHARITY SMITH

[email protected]

Ironwood — The 2021 Jack Frost Parade was the “biggest ever,” according to Ironwood Chamber director Michael Meyer.

Saturday night’s parade along Aurora Street in downtown Ironwood had 42 parade entries, said Meyer. The event brought a large crowd, as Aurora Street was lined with people on both sides.

Meyer said he believes the parade was so popular because it was the first Jack Frost parade in two years, as the event had been canceled in 2020 because of the pandemic.

Just prior to the parade at 6 p.m., a Santa dash was held with people dressed as Santa running along the parade route from the Carnegie Library southwest to the Downtown City Square.

The parade was led off by the JROTC battalion from Luther L. Wright High School under the direction of Col. Sandra Keefer. They were followed by a variety of illuminated floats, big-wheeled bikes and the ever -popular snow shovel drill team.

A horse-drawn carriage illuminated with red lights from Barber Road Stables featuring a matching pair of Percheron horses brought Mr. and Mrs. Claus to town.

Young and old enjoyed the parade, as kids scrambled for candy thrown by the passing floats.

Meyer said that the sophistication, design and execution of the floats was superb this year. A great deal of thought, planning and assembly went into many of the units, he said.

The floats, such as one by the Cub Scouts, were illuminated with hundreds of lights. Jack Frost ran the parade route with the Santas beforehand and later worked the crowd along the route, handing out candy to boys and girls on both sides of the street. He was accompanied by Frosty to the Snowman and Rudolph.

Meyer said that the good weather conditions, with temperatures in the mid 20s, also aided with the large amount of participation and crowd turnout.