NORWAY — Hundreds of rosy-cheeked children and adults, livestock and dogs sporting festive headbands participated in a 60-minute parade from Norway to Paris on Saturday.

Large crowds of delighted families watched and waved to the participants and retrieved tossed candy during the 37th annual Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce Christmas Parade.

“I think they really did a good job,” Heidi Jenkins of Norway said. “The length is awesome.”

About 15 minutes before the scheduled 11 a.m. start, Paris police were dealing with a three-vehicle accident on the parade route amid large crowds lining the street.

A few miles away, similar crowds of families with small children garbed in colorful blankets and jackets lined Main Street in Norway.

Participants in the parade — thought to be the largest Christmas parade in Maine — were mostly lined up and waiting on Norway back streets.

At the head of the procession on Whitman Street, the Silver Dolphins precision rifle team of the Navy Submarine Base at Groton, Conn., practiced spinning and tossing carbines.

It was 5 degrees above freezing, according to the Key Bank sign, and some hands missed grabs at spinning rifles, which clattered noisily on the pavement under an overcast sky.

Behind them, Jean Delamater and Karen Ellis and their grandchildren and Wendy Williams waited in the bed of a pickup truck. As Representatives of last year’s Community Service Award-winner Right Start, their ride was the grand marshal vehicle.

Right Start organizes several community service programs, including Christmas for Kids and Christmas for Teens, which get presents to hundreds of local children.

Swathed in the heady aroma from balsam fir branches lining the truck bed, they were anxious to get going.

Rolling Thunder motorcycle riders soon motored ahead of them and into place behind the rifle squad.

“This is very exciting and we’re very thrilled” to be in the parade, Delamater said.

“Two minutes!” Ellis’ husband John suddenly yelled before climbing into the driver’s seat.

However, 11 a.m. came and went as a chilling breeze swept through the crowds.

Nine minutes later, the parade began as Silver Dolphins drummer Alex Polk rapped a marching beat.

A minute later, the procession stopped, then started and stopped again before finally moving forward. Soon, however, a lengthening gap appeared. No one moved to fill it.

“Is that it?” one child asked.

Suddenly, four draft horses came trotting into view, rounding a building while hauling a large red Enchanted Acres buckboard wagon with white, wood-spoked wheels.

Their attendants soon calmed horses Louie, Steiner, Cindy and Fire.

Ten minutes later, two 18-wheel trucks carrying Wreaths Across America swung off Whitman and onto Main. The parade was under way again.

They were followed by a fleet of firetrucks and ambulances, roller skaters, a giant U.S. Army truck bearing many Christmas inflatables and Maine Antique Tractor Club tractors and riders.

As religious Christmas music emanated from vehicles, Heartfoot Realty’s “Critterville Christmas” float and Boy Scout Troop 130 entered Main Street.

Along came the Oxford Hills Christian Academy float lined with a forest of live trees and small children wearing critter hats. It won first place for nonprofits.

At 11:40 a.m., the Oxford Hills Vikings marching band started down Main Street performing a rousing song as more participants and floats snaked off Whitman Street behind them.

Then came a children’s band performing atop a large flatbed trailer hauled by a Bancroft tractor.

A wave of rollicking laughter rippled through the crowd. The first-place New Balance float rolled onto Main Street. It sported a man and woman dressed in fancy mice outfits inside a giant plastic snow globe, amid large white blobs being blown around them and a North Pole sign and post.

Near the end came local dancers and twirlers, leashed dogs sporting antler headbands, the Grinch with an antlered Rottweiler and giant sleigh, followed by an Abominable Snowman scene atop the Pine Tree Children’s House float. It won first place for small business.

Suddenly, a child on the sidewalk burst out yelling, “Santa! Santa!”

“Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas,” the jolly elf boomed into a microphone atop the Alternative Modular Homes float. And the parade was over at 12:09 p.m.

“I thought it was wonderful and I think all the kids were wonderful,” Beth Holsinger of Waterford said.

“I liked when Santa came and when the horse pooped,” Nevaeh D’Angelo, 6, of Norway said before dancing down the sidewalk after Santa.

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