Community Corner
Christmas Festivities Draw Hundreds
A parade and tree lighting ceremony took place downtown Sunday afternoon.
The 21st Annual Bel Air Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting Celebration kicked off the holiday season Sunday, drawing hundreds of visitors from Harford County and beyond.
The festivities began with a concert by the Patrick Redmond Band on Main Street, which played Christmas classics until the parade started at 3:30 p.m.
The parade featured high school bands including Bel Air, C. Milton Wright, John Carroll and Patterson Mill. Local groups participating were the Harford County Humane Society, complete with dressed up dogs, and classic characters such as the Grinch, Frosty the Snowman and the couple that got all the children excited, Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus.
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The parade led to a concert in Shamrock Park, complete with hot chocolate, cookies and sing-a-longs. The music is a favorite of local families, including Bruce and Becky Kregel, who came with their daughter, Faith.
"We love the music and the fire, and the wonderful community spirit here in Bel Air," Bruce Kregel said. "We're very happy to be a part of the wonderful celebration."
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Though many in attendance were local residents, some people came from outside of the county, like Kim Weygant, from Pasadena. Weygant came with her son, Kris, and his wife, Kellie, who live in Bel Air with their children, Katherine and Kurtis.
"We don't have anything like [this] in Pasadena," she said. "The kids need to learn this, they need to learn what old-fashioned Christmases are like."
"Even if we didn't like it we would still come because it's a family tradition," added Kris Weygant. "After this we're going to go home and decorate the tree."
The festivities concluded with the Christmas tree lighting in the park. Even with the chilly temperatures, many families plan on returning next year, including Cheryl Miller and her children, Alexa and Evan.
"This is our second year; they loved it last year so we came back," she said. "My kids love parades."
If you happened to miss the parade and tree lighting there are plenty of upcoming holiday activities to enjoy, including a presentation of A Christmas Carol at Harford Community College on Dec. 17 and Colonial Candlelight Christmas, a holiday concert with period instruments and tea at Emmanuel Church in Bel Air on Dec. 12.
