Going to see the Bowling Green Jaycees’ Christmas Parade is a tradition for Bowling Green resident Kim Allen and her family. She remembers being in the parade when she was in the Warren Central High School band years ago as well as participating in the parade when her son’s team was the Toy Bowl champion, and for the Girl Scouts.

“It’s a lot of walking. It’s fun, but it’s a good workout,” Allen said. 

This year she attended the parade with her sister Keisha Allen and nieces Jazlyn and Jerzie Glover. 

Hundreds of people lined the route of the annual parade Saturday to see the float creations of several community organizations. South Central Kentucky Kids on the Block had a trailer of puppets and the Historic Railpark & Train Museum made a train that puffed smoke and called it the polar express. Other notable floats were the gold soul train created by the Stewart Richey Service Group, which was complete with disco balls, people in Afro wigs and Quad City Dj’s song “C’mon ’N Ride It (The Train)” blaring from the speakers. Of course the grand finale of the parade was Santa and his helpers waving excitedly to the crowd.

The theme of this year’s parade was “Our Christmas Wish,” which was given a whole new meaning when Relay for Life incorporated the words on their float saying “Dear Santa, all I want for Christmas is a cure.” Other participants in the parade included middle and high school bands, fire departments and church groups. 

Miss Bowling Green Talia Horn of Richmond and Miss Mammoth Cave Area Molly Matney of Center rode together in the parade. They said even though the weather was cold, it was fun to see the kids dancing to the music and enjoying themselves. 

“I think it really brings the community together because whenever we were driving down, we saw different generations throughout every corner,” Horn said. “When you see the little kids with their grandparents or even when you see them in the parade, you know that this is something special for them.”

Matney agrees that it’s important to have these different events for the holidays because it keeps the tradition alive and creates memories for families. 

“The kids get really excited for it too and it’s a special memory I guess to look back on whenever you’re older,” she said.

Nicole Laffin came to the parade with her 5-year-old daughter Taylor and mother Paula Carver. Carver remembers bringing Laffin to the parade when she was little and now that she’s a grandparent she felt it was a good tradition to pass on. It was Taylor’s first time at the parade and she said her favorite part was the doghouse float.

“I love dogs and cats,” Taylor said. 

Lori Smith of Bowling Green came to the parade with her grandchildren as well and said they do it every year. Smith’s 8-year-old granddaughter Aniyah Smith said she enjoyed the parade and seeing people from her school.

“My favorite part was seeing my teachers and my social studies teacher,” Aniyah said. 

— Follow faith/general assignments reporter Simone C. Payne on Twitter @_SimonePayne or visit bgdailynews.com.