Comanche celebrates Christmas

With other cities in Stephens County canceling their Christmas parades, Comanche took pre-cautions and held its annual celebration last Saturday night.

The parade was broadcast on the radio for people to stay in their car if they chose to do so, but there were still many people who chose to line up along Main Street to wave at the parade participants as children scurried to pick up thrown candy from the road.

The evening event appeared to give a sense of normalcy to an otherwise chaotic year.

“I felt like everything went well,” said Mark Hall, chamber president. “People were very good about continuing to social distance and I saw many people with masks. I also thought it was good to have the FM broadcasting so that people could sit in their cars to watch the parade.”

The night started with 2020 Miss Comanche Mystik Palmer drawing Anita Butler as the winner of the Comanche Chamber of Commerce $500 chamber bucks.

The American Legion also held a couple of drawings before the parade started. Kelly Pollock and Brayden Harris emceed the event. This year’s parade marshals were Doug and Meg Strange.

The parade lasted approximately 30 minutes with several floats, classic cars, antique tractors and other vehicles joining in on the fun.

First place in the float category went to Comanche FFA with Powerhouse Cheerleading getting second and Trail Life Troop 1210 getting third.

The Meridian Fire Department took first place in the emergency vehicle category, followed by Oakridge Fire Department and Comanche Fire Department.

“While the parade itself, I don’t think, was as large as previous years, it seemed to me that those in attendance still had a good time,” Hall said.