PARIS-NORWAY – The iron, gray clouds ganged up on the parade route about a half-hour before the 11 a.m. start.

Strong winds forced their way across the streets, messing hair and forcing woolen caps to be pulled over the ears.

A hint of rain, a sparse fluttering of snow and then a bit of sleet challenged the comfort of parade goers.

Veterans of the annual Christmas Parade parked their cars facing the route so they could stay warm waiting for the 40-minute event to commence.

Many gathered within a short walk of the hot chocolate, coffee and tea available at convenience stores on the route.

No one seemed discouraged by the weather. More people arrived. They knew Santa was coming.

The sun broke through and the clouds parted to reveal a bright blue sky.

Then it began to sleet.

It didn’t bother the kids whose bright fleece, winter coats and hats colored the sidewalks where they played while waiting for the parade.

Ashly May Westgate, 5, of Poland was at the parade last year.

“I liked Santa,” she said.

Atreyu Keniston, 3, of Norway, a boy of few words called the parade “great,” favoring sirens and firetrucks that were “big and red” and Santa.

A military drill team led the parade and then fire and rescue trucks from the eight towns of Oxford Hills. Their sirens wailed and horns blared, sometimes in response to each other.

Atreyu was happy. Just like last year, they were big, red and loud.

A bus with the colorful caricature of Lewiston’s professional hockey team the MAINEiacs followed.

“Are they going to throw candy this year?” one little lad asked his dad.

They did. Tootsie Rolls, Sweeties, chewy fruits and small candy canes were tossed to the kids along the parade route.

The Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School band marched and played Christmas carols.

Popeye with his can of spinach, Winnie the Pooh, Bugs Bunny holding his carrot and that purple dinosaur Barney were some of a cast of dozen cartoon characters who waved at the crowd and stopped to shake hands with children.

The Oxford Hills Middle School band also entertained the crowd with Christmas selections from atop a flatbed truck. Perhaps, the reason why they appeared to be a little fresher than their older counterparts.

After the line of floats, nearly as long as Main Street in Norway, passed, and everybody was entertained with recorded Christmas carols, some dancing, and live music, and the kids on the sidewalks had little pockets stuffed with candy treats, the last float arrived.

It was the float the children awaited, most patiently as they could.

It began to snow lightly.

Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived.

The parade was over, and Christmas set to begin.

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