(Seguin) — The three-day holiday celebration might be over in downtown Seguin, but the bragging rights earned by the top winners in a number of competitions over the past few days including the Holiday Stroll Parade have just begun.
The trio of events which include the Holiday Stroll Parade, Sip-n-Stroll and the North Pole Stroll are put on each year by the city’s Main Street Program and the Parks and Recreation Department, as well as the Downtown Business Alliance.
Kicking things off on Thursday was the 30th annual Holiday Lighted Stroll Parade.
Thousands of people again showed up to watch and participate in the event. This year’s parade was the largest with over 90 entries. It was also the longest with this year’s route extending all the way to the Seguin Coliseum parking lot.
Among those applauding the behind-the-scenes efforts to host the parade was Seguin City Manager Steve Parker.
“I just wanted to take a small second to thank everyone who is responsible for tonight. The Holiday Stroll Parade is sponsored by the city of Seguin Parks and Recreation Department. They do a phenomenal job. This takes a lot of a lot of work. Lindsay, Jaime and Anita, Erica, Jack –all the park superintendents Bubba – all of them. I can’t tell you the number of hours they put into this thing, and it’s also sponsored by the Main Street Department and the Downtown Business Alliance of Seguin. I’d like to thank them. I’d also like to thank our community sponsors Yaklin Auto Group, Dietz Tractor Company, D& D Farm and Ranch for their huge support in making the city’s council and parade marshal floats this evening including the use of their trucks and trailers and supplies. I can’t say enough about them,” said Parker.
This year’s parade winners include:
In the Commercial Category:
1st Place went to Green Valley SUD
2nd Place- Masters Electrical Services LTD
3rd Place- Guadalupe Family Health PA
In the Non-Commercial Category winners included:
1st Place- St. James Catholic School
2nd Place- Lifegate Christian School
3rd Place- Seguin Lady Matador Softball
Immediately following the parade, the community gathered for the lighting of Central Park and the announcement of the tree decorating contest.
Seguin Mayor Donna Dodgen says she is always amazed by the creativity of the trees that outline the Central Park sidewalks.
“We’ve been doing this several years now and these trees are simply amazing. When I drive by here after we have had this weekend, I see a lot of people out here looking at those trees,” said Dodgen.
The winners of the Christmas Tree Decorating Contest were also announced.
1st Place- The St. James Catholic School tree shaped into a cake
2nd Place- Heart to Heart Hospice Tree and it’s theme of Blessed, Grateful and Thankful
3rd Place- Navarro High School’s Career Academy of Training tree that featured Sulley from Monsters Inc.
Honorable Mention went to the Southwest Preparatory PTO and it’s Crayon tree.
The Christmas trees will remain in place until after the New Year.
Also completing the list of winners this weekend were the tasty recipes from this year’s Sip-n-Stroll.
Cocoa winners from Friday’s Sip-N-Stroll in Downtown Seguin are also recognized for their tasty recipes. Close to 40 chocolatiers participated in this year’s event which had residents traveling around to various businesses – tasting and judging the best cocoa.
Best Milk Chocolate Cocoa: The Mercantile
Best White Chocolate Cocoa: GPS printing
Best Dark Chocolate Cocoa: Pecan Town Books and Brews
Most Unique Cocoa: Tarpon Blue
Most Creatively Named Cocoa: Seguin Brewing
Other events included last weekend were the Jingle Bell Run and first ever kids’ Shoe Box Christmas parade around Central Park.
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- Photo courtesy City of Seguin
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- Photo courtesy City of Seguin
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- Photo courtesy City of Seguin
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- Photo courtesy City of Seguin