ASHLAND — Paula Mayo’s favorite part of the event is seeing smiles on the children’s faces as floats, bands, cheerleaders and, eventually, Santa Claus parade down Winchester Avenue.

She has had plenty of time to decide her favorite part with 15 years of parade experience as an administrative assistant for the Ashland Alliance.

“Watching the children is what warms my heart about the parade,” Mayo said. “And the children’s parade favorite is, by far, seeing Santa. Everyone will stand and wait to see him.”

And it’s a long wait, too. Especially in the cold weather. Even though the estimated length of the parade, she said, is about two hours, 25,000 to 30,000 people will come out to watch.

“People come from all over the Tri-State and most will stay until the very end,” Mayo explained. “We realize it is long but who would you turn away?”

Mayo said the only stipulation to participating in the parade is that what ever paradegoers must be properly decorated for the holiday.

“This is a community parade and we want to include everyone,” she said. “That’s why it is the largest parade in Kentucky. All we ask is that there be only one Mr. and Mrs. Claus and we limit the number of cars that can be entered from one car club.”

Many participants, like churches, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and other groups, bring their parade floats from all over the Tri-State.

“Everybody loves the floats,” she said. “We have some really gorgeous floats. Our community really puts themselves out there decorating these things and they always look so great.”

Mr. and Mrs. Claus are coming all the way from Washington Courthouse this year.

“They are part of a volunteer fire department we make donations to there,” Mayo said. “They take their float to different parades around the state.

“The float is terrific. It has reindeer and a sleigh and they just do such a great job.”

The grand marshal this year will be John Conlee, a country music artist born and raised in Versailles. A few of his hits include “Rose Colored Glasses,” “Back Side of Thirty” and “Lady Lay Down.”

Conlee has performed in nine of Willie Nelson’s Farm Aid concerts, which have raised 13 million dollars to aid the family farmer. He lives on a farm outside of Nashville with his wife Gale and their three children.

Mayo’s advice for parking on Tuesday for the parade is, “Come early.”

“We don’t use Central Park anymore to line up,” she said, “so anyone who wants to can park there. Otherwise, the earlier you come, the better your chances are of getting a good spot.”



ASHLAND The Winter Wonderland of Lights annual Christmas Parade in downtown Ashland will be Tuesday at 7 p.m.

The lineup in each division is on a first-come basis and will begin at 5 p.m. All participants must be in place and ready to move by 6:30 p.m.

Participants

DIVISION 1: Ashland Police Department, Winter Wonderland of Lights Banner, Paul G. Blazer Jr. ROTC Color Guard, Boyd County High School Jr. ROTC Color Guard, (30-plus cadets behind color guard), The United States Flag–AMVETS Post 108, the 2005 Band Contest Winner, Russell High School Marching Band, 2006 Parade Grand Marshal–John Conlee, Country Music, the “Winter Wonderland Express” train sponsored by Clear Channel Communications and Big Sandy Super Store, WTCR Radio, Russell High School Dance Team.

DIVISION 2: Ironton High School Million Dollar Band, Oakview Elementary 5th Grade Cheerleaders, Girl Scout Troop 790, Yvonne DeKay School of Dance, Hoods Creek Freewill Baptist Church Daycare, Backstage Players, Daisy Troop 931 Summit Elementary, Pollard Neighborhood Daycare, Mt. Olive Freewill Baptist Church, Mustangs Girl Soccer-Soccer Locker, WKEE 100.5, B 97.1; Catlettsburg Church of God, Ironville Independent Baptist Church, Crabbe Elementary Cool Camp Baton Twirlers, Hatcher and Crabbe COOL Camp and Verity After Hours, Junior Troop 955, LifeSong Church Kids.

DIVISION 3: South Point High School Marching Band, Hager Elementary 4th Grade Cheerleaders, Hager Elementary 5th Grade Cheerleaders, Cub Scout Pack 112, King’s Daughters Medical Center’s Safe Kids Van and Heart Challenge Course Trailer, Skyriders Bicycles, Girl Scout Troop 964, Shelter of Hope, Charles Russell Elementary 4th and 5th Grade Cheerleaders, Summer Motion, Ashland Community and Technical College Theatre, Durbin Church of the Nazarene Youth Group; WLGC Radio, Girl Scout Troops 985 and 399, Cub Scout Pack 96.

DIVISION 4: Huntington High School Marching Band, Burnaugh Baptist Church, Center for Cultural Interchange, Paws Along the River, England Hill Freewill Baptist Church, Holy Family Girl Scouts and Brownie Troops 969, Knights of Columbus 4th Degree Council 313, Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital Mobile Wellness Center, Boyd County Public Library, Ashland Youth Ballet, Rose Hill Baptist Church, Rose Hill Christian School, WRYV-Classic Rock 101.5, The River, Magic 97.9 Radio, Ashland JFL 2nd-4th Grade Black Football and Cheerleaders, Ramey-Estep Homes, Second Freewill Baptist Youth Bell Choir.

DIVISION 5: Shriners.

DIVISION 6: Ohio University Southern Campus, Landyn Bocook 2nd Runner-up New Star Discovery, Asha Copas-Shelton Rainbows Little Miss Kentucky, Lyndsey Burke Little Miss Flame 2006 and Tiny Miss Boyd County Fair, Abigail Young Wee Miss Poage Landing Days 2006, Madison Sheppard Mini Miss Poage Landing Days 2006, Katie Wesley 2007 Little Miss Ashland Area, Madelyn Tackett Tiny Miss Flame, Sara Snyder Miss Booker T. Washington, Brandi Muncy Miss Ashland Area 2007, Clerrinda Walker Miss Grayson Heart of the Parks, Ashton Rice Teen Miss Grayson Heart of the Parks, Karli Ashley Jr. Little Miss Ashland Area 2007, Taylor Benge Little Miss Poage Landing, Erica Canfield Miss Ashland Area Outstanding Teen 2007, Rebecca Sorrell Preteen Miss Ashland Area 2007, Destiny Lee Woods Tiny Miss Ashland Area 2007, Emily Williamson Bluegrass Princess 2006, Abigail Williamson Tiny Miss Ashland Area 2007, Savannah Robinson Miss Preteen Summer Motion, Shyanna Howard Miss Pre-teen Boyd County, Isabella Caperton Tiny Miss 2006 Summer Motion, Destany Paige Little Phenomenal Faces Miss Teen West Virginia.

DIVISION 7: Raceland High School Marching Band, Boyd County 911, DESCO Federal Credit Union, WOWK Channel 13 Television, Marshall University officials, Cub Scout Pack 134 and Boy Scout Troop 134, Marathon Catlettsburg Refining, Ponderosa Elementary 5th Grade Cheerleaders, Kenwood Missionary Baptist Church, Cub Scout Pack 112, Grace Nazarene Church-Ashland, Choices and Changes Youth Services, Garner Baptist Church, Christ Temple Youth Dept., Liberty Missionary Baptist Church, March of Dimes, Straight Creek Church of the Nazarene.

DIVISION 8: Paul G. Blazer High School Marching Band, Paul G. Blazer Winter Guard, Verity Dance Team, Ashland Varsity Cheerleaders, ABC Dog Park-“Charlie” Community Hospice/King of the Fling and “Cubby” McGill/Queen of the Fling, National Street Road Association, Ashland Boyd County Health Department, Boyd County 4-H Saddelites Club, Boyd County FFA, Magical Disc Jockey, Blue Knights KY VIII, Profitt Chiropractic, American Legion Post 76 Ladies Auxiliary, Bob Meenach State Farm Insurance, Cingular Wireless, Mastercuts, Ashland Elks 350, Stanton Miller Pools and Hot Tubs, Ashland DQ Grill ‘N Chill 13th Street location, Poage Cheerleaders, Chesapeake Marching Band.

DIVISION 9: Boyd County High School Marching Band, Boyd County Varsity Cheerleaders, Boyd County 8th Grade Cheerleaders, the National POW-MIA-KIA Traveling Memorial, WVHU, A&A; Porta-Potties, Mayor’s Youth Council, Joy-FM 98.3 Radio, Light Bearers Motorcycles, Westwood Boys and Girls Club, Characters 4 Kidz, Portsmouth Ambulance.

DIVISION 10: Steven Matthews 1931 Ford and 1941 Mercury Convertible, Heiner’s Bakery, Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus, Tint America, Stafford Motor Sports.