Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
P.J. Glisson/The Globe AT Saturday night's Jack Frost parade in Ironwood, this float by the Gogebic County 4-H Club, which depicted children sledding amidst a slew of colorful lights, took first place among all entries.
P.J. Glisson/The Globe NESTLED IN the embrace of Mrs. Claus last Saturday is Amina Bucknell, 5 months, of Hurley. She is the daughgter of Cally and Kurt Bucknell. The Jack Frost Festival event with Santa and Mrs. Claus was at Incredible Bank in Ironwood.
IRONWOOD - Balmy temperatures resulted in a large crowd at Ironwood's Jack Frost Festival parade Saturday night.
"There were lots of people," said Michael Meyer, director of the Ironwood Chamber of Commerce, which sponsored the event. "The crowd of children this year was just amazing."
He estimated on Monday that there were twice as many kids attending this year's parade as last year, thanks to this season's 30-degree evening. "Last year, the munchkins were all bundled up," added Meyer, whereas this year everyone basked in the mild air.
Overall, he estimated that more than a thousand people attended.
"It all went very well," said Meyer of the parade, which featured 34 entries, including many floats draped in colored lights, walkers distributing candy, bedecked vehicles, and plenty of horses and dogs. There were even a couple of calves, a goat and a miniature horse.
Meyer said that Ironwood City Manager Paul Anderson was the new parade director this year, backed up by longstanding section leaders Mike Czerneski and Marianne Andresen.
"It really went like clockwork," said Meyer of the Aurora Street procession.
According to Meyer, the top three parade entrants won cash prizes as follows:
The Gogebic County 4-H Club won $300 for a float that included a hill ablaze in lights and kids on sleds.
Ironwood's Aurora Club took second place and $200 for an illuminated dog house based on Snoopy of the Peanuts cartoon.
Third place and $100 went to a combined entry by HOPE Animal Shelter and Drooling Dog Bakery, both in Ironwood. That float also included a small dog house with a glowing dog and cat outside of it. The float's caption read "Drooling for a treat. Hoping for a home."
A variety of dogs also were led on leashes by human friends walking near the float.
Three other entrants received ribbons, as follows:
Poodle and Jacks Dog Spa in Ironwood received fourth prize for a float loaded with white lights and white balloons.
Tula Toilet and Septic of Ironwood won fifth prize for a float loaded with colorful, gigantic blow-up dinosaurs, dogs and snowmen.
The sixth prize tied between Team Z, a youth skiing team, and the Iron County 4-H Club. Team Z led strolling skiers with a truck wrapped in lights, and a large banner fronted the Iron County 4-H group.
In addition, Santa and Mrs. Claus waved from a carriage, and a number of other organizations and businesses also participated in the parade, along with Woodland Church, instrumental musicians, members of local public safety, massive rigs from local snowmobile clubs, and the always popular Shovel Brigade.
"Thanks for coming out to find us," called out one parade viewer as members of the Gogebic County Search and Rescue Team passed by on foot and in their rigs.
In addition, Sam the Samson, Gogebic Community College's mascot, also worked the crowd, along with Jack Frost and an elf.
Afterward, the Gogebic Range Band offered a Christmas concert in the Historic Ironwood Theatre. Members of Accent! - Luther L. Wright High School's show choir - wrapped up that performance by singing several songs from the movie "The Polar Express" as the band also played.
Earlier in the afternoon, Santa and Mrs. Claus greeted a long line of children in Incredible Bank.
