A so-called “War Wagon” honoring veterans from World War I through Afghanistan, participates in the Christmas in the Valley parade in Rumford on Saturday. (Bruce Farrin/Rumford Falls Times)

The first-place float award in the commercial/business category went to Andy Dupuis Towing & Salvage, depicting the elves and Rudolph in the Christmas in the Valley parade in Rumford on Saturday. (Bruce Farrin/Rumford Falls Times)

The second-place float award in the commercial/business category was Santa’s reindeer by White’s Yardworks in the Christmas in the Valley parade in Rumford on Saturday.

First place in the nonprofit/civic category went to Region 9 School of Applied Technology for a float featuring characters in “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” in the Christmas in the Valley parade in Rumford on Saturday. (Bruce Farrin/Rumford Falls Times)

RUMFORD — The holiday season was in full gear Saturday evening with the annual Christmas in the Valley parade.

The parade included decorated floats and ATVs, along with firetrucks, with people braving the frigid weather along both sides of the route cheering them on, many taking photos.

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The theme for the parade, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, was “Christmas Movies.”

First-place commercial/business went to Andy Dupuis Towing & Salvage, depicting the elves and Rudolph; second place commercial/business was a float about Santa’s reindeer by White’s Yardworks.

First place nonprofit/civic went to Region 9 School of Applied Technology, featuring characters in “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.”

Another feature was called the “War Wagon,” which honored veterans from World War I through Afghanistan.

The parade began from Mountain Valley High School on Hancock Street and finished at the end of Congress Street, where Santa lit the Christmas Tree in Veterans Park.

Santa then greeted the long line of children in the Rumford Fire Station where the Firemen’s Relief held a crockpot buffet.

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From there, people walked next door to the Town Hall and upstairs to the Rumford Falls Auditorium for the 10th annual Festival of Trees, featuring 16 trees decorated by the town, businesses and organizations, and judged by the public.

Children wrote letters to Santa and there was a special visit from Giggles the Giant Panda before Santa arrived.

A concert by the Rumford Association for the Advancement of the Performing Arts opened the show.

Recognized was Jim Rinaldo, who began the Festival of Trees and will be handing the reins to Stephanie Reed in 2019.

bfarrin@sunmediagroup.net


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