Popular event set for Nov. 25 at 7 p.m. in the city
By Barb Pert Templeton
Perhaps nothing kicks off the holiday season better than a Santa parade complete with the jolly old elf, live animals and groups of local children taking to the streets.
That’ll be the case for the annual Holly Jolly Santa Parade in Marine City on Tuesday, Nov. 25 from 7 to 9 p.m. Line-up for the parade begins at 6 p.m.
The parade, sponsored by the Old News Boys Association of Marine City, will start at Holy Cross Church and end at the Heritage Square gazebo at old city hall located at 300 Broadway.
At the gazebo Santa will visit with children and hear their Christmas wishes. Hot cocoa, cookies and popcorn will also be provided.
“The Grinch” paid a visit to Santa Claus following last year’s parade in Marine City.
All are welcome to join the parade lineup.
“There’s always room for more and last-minute entries are always welcome,” Parade Organizer Andrea Shink said. “Right now, we have 30 units.”
Along that same line, Marine City Mayor Pro Tem Lisa Hendrick, a member of the Old Newsboys group, has been plugging the annual holiday parade for weeks from her seat at the city commission table.
“There is still time if anybody wants to get in to it, they can, just contact me or Andrea Shink, we’ll sign you up and even if it’s the night of the parade we’ll get you in,” Hendrick said during her commissioner comments at the Nov. 20 city commission meeting.
Shink said organizers are proud of the parade and every year they have participation from Marine City Little League, local boy and girl scout troops, plus volunteers from the community that include the Old Newsboys and Rotary Club.
Parade organizer Andrea Shink is pictured here with Santa Claus and her son, Spencer Shink.
“We are very blessed to have live animals joining in on the fun as well each year as well as horse draw carriages,” Shink said. “Being a rural community, we are especially proud of our turnout of
lighted tractors and rounding out the mix are our wonderful area businesses such as Marine City Jets Pizza and Tiger Carpet Care along with Lumberjack.”
Rounding out the participate roster are members of the Marine City High School Marching Band under the director of Steven C. Fox. Shink said once the football season ends the band begins practicing their holiday music just for the parade. Other school groups that join the fun include students from Holy Cross Catholic School and members of the girls’ basketball team.
“We also have police, fire and DPW (employees) in the parade and they volunteer to make this happen for our community,” Shink said.
The parade draws some amazing costumed characters too and a regular appearance by “The Grinch” is always a crowd favorite.
A flyer promoting the upcoming parade in Marine City.
“Every year we get a wonderful crowd and at the end of our parade, Santa makes his way to hear all the Christmas wishes for the children while we pass out free coco, cookies, popcorn and water,” Shink said.
She took over organizing the parade four years ago, with lots of help behind the scenes including from the Old Newsboys. She recalled that there was no parade in 2020 due to COVID but it had always been an annual tradition that her children looked forward to.
“I wanted to make sure somebody was doing it for the kids and the Old Newsboys Association is a great team that works together so I see us doing this for years to come,” Shink said.
“I also feel that our parade right before Thanksgiving kicks off the holiday season for so many and gives them a jump on that holiday spirit,” she added.
For more information about the parade contact Andrea Shink at (586)980-9583.
