Bonham -- It was beginning to look a lot like Christmas in downtown Bonham on Nov 20, 2015. We had vendors, a blow-up slide, concessions, and the Chi Lambda make-your-own-ornaments and live music for everyone to enjoy. Activity around the square stopped as the floats, decked in lights, snow, families, and nativities, rolled onto the scene.
The community loved the floats and individual entries that everyone spent their time in creating. Everyone had great things to say about all the entries. The parade judges confessed they had a very difficult job but chose the following as the top three floats: 1st – Festival of Flight with Airplane float, 2nd – Girl Scouts of Fannin County, 3rd – American Bank of Texas, and Mayor’s Choice — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Congratulations and great work to all our entries. What a great showing from our community. You all made it a wonderful night.
If you saw all that went on, you know there were lots of folks behind the scene that made it possible. The first group to be thanked is the Christmas Holiday Parade Committee: Kristi Agerlid; Patti Wolf; Kelly Wilson; Melissa Wallace; Jaclyn Owens; and John Ryan. Thanks to the legwork and time given by these individuals we had a parade, a brand new tree and specially painted windows (by Christmas elves! Kristi Agerlid and Melissa Wallace).
Next would be our volunteers: the many helpful people of Chi Lambda, CERT and Judy and David Keene.
Thank you also to:
Ronnie Hill and the Bonham Utilities crew; Ronnie and his crew were there when needed, and more. They worked tirelessly to get the lights and greenery ready.
The Honorable Mayor Roy Floyd and our Bonham public servants, Police, Fire Dept for supporting and allowing!
Chi Lambda, for working with the committee and coordinating the lighting of the square and tree with the parade festivities making it all that much more special!
The Bonham Community Band for adding so much to the evening with their music and singing talents.
The Fannin County Leader, and Allen Rich with North Texas e-News for their help in promoting the event.
Senior Care Centers, and Kelly Wilson for sponsoring the huge slide for the kids.
Bonham Chrysler and Melissa Wallace for sponsoring, building, and supplying Santa and his float, and for staying afterwards for kids to visit and have their picture taken with Santa. Also, thanks to Bonham Chrysler for furnishing vehicles for our dignitaries, and, biggest and best of all this year, the brand new tree!
And Our Sponsors, whose generosity realized one of the brightest, well attended parades Bonham has had in a long time. Gold Sponsors: American Bank of Texas; Bonham Chrysler; City of Bonham; Massey’s Music; Texas Farm Bureau. Silver Sponsors: Bonham Visitor’s Center; Chi Lambda Foundation; Cole Title Company; Hope Concrete; Solid Ground Realtors. Green Sponsors: McCraw Oil/Kwik Chek; Senior Care Centers.
Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year…and thank you!
all photos by Allen Rich