Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

People brave cold for holiday events

Local and area residents braved a bitter, biting cold for the annual Prescott Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade and Christmas on the Square.

Both events occurred Thursday, Dec. 8, starting with the parade. Floats, marchers and others in the parade lined up at 5 p.m. for judging, and followed the traditional parade route to the Nevada County Courthouse at 6 oclock.

In spite of the rapidly falling temperature and biting wind, people lined the streets to watch the parade.

Winners were named at Christmas on the Square. In the car/truck division of the parade, Autumn Scruggs was the winner. D.J. Stigauld took top spot for having the best decorated bike.

Judy Duke was the winner with the best decorated four-wheeler, while the Prescott Rotary Club had the best decorated golf cart. Mary Gail Hughes and Pookie were deemed as having the best animal costume, while the Prescott High School Marching Wolf Pride Band won the marching group category.

In the float division, the Nevada County Fair Queens not only won the event, but was also named as having the best overall theme. Macedonia Church was second in floats, with the PHS Cheerleaders third.

Prescott Flowers and Gifts was the winner of the best decorated business window contest, taking home a traveling trophy and bragging rights until next year.

The parade of homes winners were also named at Christmas on the Square. In the county, the best lighted display went to Tom and Barbara Cornelius, while Mike and Melanie Koger had the best unlighted display. The best theme went to Danny and Jeanette Martin.

In the city, Hoyt and Karen Jobe had the best lighted display, with James and Sheila Cannon being tabbed as having the best unlighted display. George Darrell and Vickie Glass had the best theme.

But this wasnt all. Patrons at Christmas on the Square were entertained by Brandi Karlovec and Brad Crain, with help from several children from the audience. The Presbyterian Pre-school had a group sing Christmas carols, and the Central Baptist Church Youth Choir sang as well.

The night ended with the snowball avalanche. This event had ping pong balls fired into the audience. Many of the balls had some kind of discount written on them to be used at local businesses.

Mary Godwin, executive director of the Chamber, used a megaphone to tell the participants the rules. The avalanche began with the younger children, followed by those in middle school, then the teens and adults. The ping pong balls were fired into the crowd by Donnie and Brad Crain. Donnie is the new executive director of the Prescott-Nevada County Economic Development Office, while Brad is president of the Chamber.