The 26^th Annual Holiday Children's Parade stepped off from Kennedy Park shortly after 12:30 p.m. on a sunny but cool December 4th afternoon following the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus by helicopter. Planned by the Holiday Committee, the parade featured gigantic helium balloons depicting Elmo holding a fish bowl, Oscar the Grouch, and twin gingerbread cookies provided by Fabulous Inflatables of Detroit. Over one hundred local, state and regional bands, schools and organizations marched along the mile and a half parade route to Battleship Cove. "Everything was terrific, including the weather!," remarked CD-REC executive director Grace Gerling, one of the principal organizers of the event, who had to contend with rain in last year's parade. Family members of soldiers who lost their lives in combat served as parade grand marshals, including parents of Army National Guard Sergeant Robert Barrett, the mother of Army Specialist Scott Andrews, and the mother of Lance Corporal John James Van Gyzen, Click here for the Herald News article. Click here for the video of this year's parade, here for the FRGTV broadcast, and here for Herald News video of last year's parade. Contact Grace Gerling at 508-679-022 for info..
 

(Top row) Santa arrives by helicopter in the middle of Kennedy Park and goes over to greet Robert Rodrigues who holds his seven-year-old daughter, Tiffany, while Mayor Will Flanagan looks on. (Second row, left) Henry Lord seventh-graders Kristy Laroch and Dominque St. Pierre of the PLOT Club lead off the parade. (Second row, center) Carlene and Paul Barrett, parents of Army National Guard Sergeant Robert Barrett who was killed by an IED in Afghanistan, were Grand Marshalls along with family members of other veterans. (Second row, right) The Hallamore Clydesdale Horses head up South Main Street. (Third row, left) Fall River Police Officer Brian Saurette hands out candy to children along the parade route. (Third row, center) Chantelle Cezar and Tatianna Batista march with the Flint Merchants' Association float. (Third row, right) Students from the Viveiros Elementary School march with the school Wizard. (Fourth row) Fall River Fire Department cadets march in the parade with Miss Fall River, Miss Bristol County, and Anthony Hall selling his wares. (Fifth row, left) Former Miss Massachusetts and Durfee High School advisor Michaela Hetzler marches with the Peaceful Coalition. (Fifth row, right) Pauline Habib sits with her son, Brady, Navanna Curry and older son, Mason, as they watch the Elmo 45' balloon get stuck under the traffic light. (Bottom row) Members of the Durfee High School Marching Band and the Letourneau School float finish the parade with Santa and Mrs. Claus.