Special to the Times
The world has changed a great deal in the past two years that the COVID-19 virus, and it’s variants, have been with us and nowhere has it been more evident than in how local residents celebrate the holidays. While many of the traditional Union County events carried on this year (after some took Christmas 2020 off for health and safety reasons), but attendance has been much lighter than in previous years, and the Lake Butler Christmas Parade and Santa event at the lake had fewer people come to watch and participate.
The annual Christmas parade, help on Dec. 18, 2021, seemed to have fewer people watching it and did, in actuality, have fewer persons participating at the lake event.
Many usual entrants in the parade, among the most notable being Community State Bank and Lake Butler Hospital, did not sign up to participate this year. The event featured a parade lasting a little less than 15 minutes, with fewer people than is usual standing along the route to watch. There were also fewer participants in the parade itself.
A Union County Sheriff’s Office car led the way, closely followed by the Boy Scouts of America Troop and Pack 140 Color Guard. Next came the Flag Corps. manipulating seasonally decorated hoops in a coordinated display. Right behind came the band itself, under the direction of Band Director and UCHS Teacher of the Year Kelly Dorsey, who walked along the musicians and waved at the crowd.
The BSA Troop and Pack presented a float on the event as well. Other floats included: Lake Butler Public Works, Babe Ruth Softball, Babe Ruth Baseball, the American Legion & the UCHS JROTC (sharing a float), Lake Butler Church of God, Southern Goddess and Andrews Site Prep. In addition, Pierce Tree Service sent along a lighted bucket truck which virtually glowed against the darkening sky.
The floats were judged by the team of Mallory Southwell, Jeanette Mantilla and Danika Zhao, who deemed the Andrews Site Prep float worthy of first place, with the Babe Ruth Baseball float taking second place and the Lake Butler Church of God float coming in third.
Also on hand, filling out the parade were decorated cars by Libby Massage and Wellness, the UCHS Homecoming Queen and King 2020-21, the Allstars Twirling Academy (with the car followed by several ranks of twirlers, including two with fire batons), Miss Union County High, the Bradford/Union Strawberry Queen and Princess, Little Miss Union County Queen and Princess and Carr Creations. Sue Hardin and Kathy Ruling rode in a brightly lighted golf cart and Junio Miss Northeast Florida participated in a truck.
The rear guard of the parade was made up of the Brantley/Prescott family horse and, as always, the Union County Riding Club, with a Union County Fire Department truck carrying Santa for his first appearance of the evening.
The action moved to the big pavilion at Lakeside Park, where about 125 children got to visit with Santa and tell him their Christmas wishes. The line was long, but not as long as in previous years, but the young folks were accompanied by one or both parents or other family member.
While the parade and Santa event were going on, the Union County Senior Citizens Club was holding its annual Christmas party and dinner. There was live music for dancing and a delicious potluck dinner was served.
Also part of the city holiday events was the naming of the winners of the Downtown Decorating Contest in Lake Butler. Terry’s Florals took top honors, followed by Simply Blessed and the Supervisor of Elections office.
While the crowd were smaller the holiday spirit was present at all of the events and the children scrambled for thrown candy at the parade with their usual eager energy. The children were the happiest people in attendance, perhaps less directly affected by the help concerns that have kept many adults in constant stress for almost two years. But while the stress, and financial issues may dampen many people’s holiday spirit, the community survives and will see more Christmases starting next year.
Merry Christmas, Union County!
