Parade entries march to awards

MADISON – School and civic groups, along with businesses, claimed awards for their performances and floats in the 2016 Madison Christmas Parade on Dec. 10.

This year’s theme was “The Magic of Christmas.” “The 2016 Madison Christmas Parade had over 135 entries,” Gayle Milam said. Milam works as the city’s Event and Volunteer Coordinator.

The “Spectacular Sparkles Award” went to the Native Sons & Daughters Programs of the Muscogee Nation. Girl Scout Service Unit 212 earned the “Elfin Magic Award” with their charming and bubbly behavior for the Christmas season.

Always a lively group, the Third- and Fourth-Grade Crusaders from St. John the Baptist Catholic School nabbed the “Spirit Award” for their loud chants and rhythmic background sounds.

The Cotton Candies Marching Krewe won “Parade Performance.” This group of women wore all shades and sizes of pink and exerted contagious humor and fun for the spectators.

The “Director’s Award – Small Group” went to the energetic athletics that study with Jeong’s Yong In Martial Arts. James Clemens High School Marching Band earned the “Director’s Award – Large Group” for fanfares and blasting drumline.

The Jets Band will march in London’s New Year’s Day Parade, one of the world’s largest street parades. For the first time, a high school band from Madison will travel internationally when James Clemens Band takes formation in London streets on Jan. 1, 2017.

RUFF (Ready Yourself for the Future) leadership organization took the “Mayor’s Award – Small Float/Display” for a depiction of a soldier’s Christmas morning compared to his family’s at home. Cub Scout Pack 8 won the “Mayor’s Award – Large Float/Display” for their hard work.

The parade committee presented its “Small Float/Display Award” to Opie Balch Realty. The committee’s award for the large float or display went to Batteries Plus Bulbs.