Ashland, Virginia - The 56th Annual Olde Time Holiday Parade

#ashland #holiday #parade

As parade time approached, I joined the gathering crowd and claimed a spot by the England Street crossing; the better to see both the parade and the inevitable interruptions from CSX and Amtrak, I figured.

0:00 - Amtrak 40, CSX I031, and Amtrak 153
And speaking of those interruptions...before the parade could start, Amtrak and CSX had to get a few things out of the way first. Specifically, the northbound Floridian, I031, and Northeast Regional 153, all seasoned with liberal horn blasts.

6:27 - The Parade Begins
The grand marshall's Bentley led the way for a procession of first responders, cheerleaders, and a giant pink bunny with a walking leg lamp.

11:32 - Independence Christian Church

11:46 - Patrick Henry High School and Hanover High School Key Clubs

12:43 - CSX M416
We interrupt your regularly-scheduled parade for...a train. The front portion of the parade waited dutifully out of shot to the left until the rear could safely cross.

18:33 - Ford Model A Club
The Model As were appropriately followed by a classic Mustang convertible.

20:25 - Patrick Henry High School Navy Junior ROTC

21:17 - Amtrak 80, Carolinian
One more train...

21:54 - Hanover Christmas Mother/Virginia State Police/Corvettes
Insert Ford vs. Chevy quip here. The 2025 Hanover Christmas Mother rode in a Mustang convertible, followed by a VSP pursuit hardtop version and a procession of C8 Corvettes - and from the sound of it, including at least one flat-plane crank Z06 or ZR1. A lone Aston Martin brought up the rear, not quite matching the Vettes' engine-revving shenanigans.

24:05 - Acca Temple Shriners

26:37 - A Nightmare Before Cookie Season

28:01 - Pride Of Hanover Lodge 264 (Free & Accepted Masons)

28:29 - More Classic Cars
Mixing it up a little - C3 Corvette, Ford Falcon, Monte Carlo SS, Nova SS, and a Ford F-100 pickup.

29:30 - Paws For Purple Hearts

30:10 - Decorated Motorcycles (And One Trike)

30:58 - Mechanicsville/Hanover HS Navy Junior ROTC

35:10 - Patrick Henry HS Marching Band

36:38 - Colonial Newfoundland Club

37:12 - Berea Baptist Church

37:50 - Rocky Ridge Riders 4-H
The 4-H club's vintage Farmall tractor was followed by a small procession of decorated Jeeps.

39:42 - Various Vehicles
Early-60s Chevy, Jeep, tricked-out Mustang and PT Cruiser, tiny John Deere tractor, not-so-tiny International Harvester/Farmall turbo.

41:46 - More Classic Cars
Monte Carlo SS, W140 Mercedes, Camaro convertible, C1/C4/C5 Corvettes, Pontiac Lemans convertible, Chevy pickups, Ford Pinto

43:42 - River City Wranglerz
I daresay the Jeep turnout was at least as good as the Corvettes.

47:11 - Amtrak Northeast Regional 158
Okay, maybe one more train.

48:19 - More Classic Cars
Monte Carlo SS, Chevelle, C3 Corvette, Mustang fastback, C6/C7/C8 Corvettes, Ford Model T (on a trailer), early-60s Thunderbird.

51:01 - Classic Tractors

52:24 - Sparklz

52:38 = Amtrak 41, Floridian
Last train, for real this time...

53:11 - 804 Dance Place

55:34 - Santa Claus
The Jolly Old Fat Guy In Red himself and his Fire & Rescue entourage bring the parade to a close.

Shoutout to the Kiwanis Club Of Ashland and all the parade participants for an entertaining afternoon.