Denison -- This is more than just the holiday season. 

This is the Christmas parade season and downtown Denison was packed Thursday evening as area residents lined the streets in anticipation of the annual Denison Christmas Parade.

The Denison Chamber of Commerce promised 100 entries, but even that seemed to have been a very modest prediction. 

For 40 minutes the crowd was in awe as a seemingly endless line of participants passed by, led by a Denison Police Department escort and with Santa Claus himself riding on the final parade entry. 

Grand Prize (Best of Parade) – $250 – “Polar Express” from Fairview Baptist Church

First Place – $150 – Virginia Cook Realtors “The Grinch that Stole Christmas”

Second Place – $100 – Dance Xplosion “Whoville”

Third Place - $75 – Bike for Willie (Bike in honor of Willie Bates)

Car/Motorcycle – $75 – Straight Clownin Car Club

Equestrian – $75 – The Glory Riders