Oh, the weather outside looked frightful and this snow is quite a sight-ful, but the lights will be all a-glow, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
Our parade has cars a stoppin’, because we paused our Christmas shoppin’, and the lights will be all a-glow, let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
When Santa finally comes in view, how the crowd will be yellin’ Wahoo! And the crush of the kids we warn, around Santa’s hut they will swarm.
Oh, Mayor Larry has flipped the switch now, and the crowd gives him a big, Wow! The City Green is all a-glow- Hurray! Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
A brilliant sun burst through the heavy grey clouds that just moments before threatened high winds and more snow. The sun peeked out just as the participants in the North Royalton Holiday Parade began to gather at St. Albert the Great’s Royalwood parking lot. Fr. Estok greeted Mayor Larry Antoskiewicz who was among the first to arrive as well as the YMCA Adventure Clubs, Dads and Sons and their counterpart, Adventure Princesses, Dads and Daughters. Fr. Estok commented on the quick change of the weather, “It really looked threatening, I was surprised at the strength of the wind.” Perhaps Father said a prayer for better weather for an hour or two. Other participants gathering for the brief march included The North Royalton Girls Baseball team, Boy Scout Troop 526, the snazzy red pickup truck belonging to Carmen and Sons Cement, Miss River Valley State Jr. Teen, Leah Canter; the city council members including the Grinch and Mrs. Claus; the honor guard flag bearers, NRHS Royal Aires Flag Corp, the Royalettes dance team, the members of the NRHS marching band drum section, and every kid’s favorite, Clifford the Big Red Dog who brought the Royalton Recorder car and of course the Big Man himself, Santa Claus riding a fire truck. Jackie Canter reported there were about a dozen groups taking part in the parade.
The short but enthusiastic parade stepped off smartly at 4:45 pm, that was time enough to march in the remaining daylight just in time to get to the North Royalton City Green as the first planet became clearly visible in the sky. Police had traffic take a short detour as the way was made straight for the parade. Meanwhile, hundreds of people with kids and tiny wee ones wrapped in blankets lined the city green or stood in line for hot chocolate provided by the North Royalton Lions Club.
“The drums, the drums, you can hear them come.” Rebecca Neuzil, exclaimed to her mom and siblings, “ I can hear the drums – they’re coming!” Rachel Neuzil brought her own parade of Rebecca 7, Sarah 5, Emma 3, Luke 2, and John 7mos. “We’re excited to be here. It has been several years, (and two children ago) since we’ve been able to see the Christmas lighting. It’s a fun thing to do.” On the other side of the street eagerly awaiting the parade and Santa were Madison Adair, her brother Levi and their mom, Tiffany. “I want to march in this parade next year.” Madison said as she bobbed up and down. “I hope my Girl Scout troop marches.” The mayor’s car and the drums passed by, and everyone looked to see if Santa was coming yet. The fire truck pulled into view and a shiver of anticipation and cold went through the crowd. “I can’t see him yet,” said a young voice from the crowd. Another asked, “Did you get a piece of candy?” “ I have two,” a voice said with a mouth full.
Mayor Larry Antoskiewicz is quickly closing his second year as mayor, but this is the first time he has been able to flip the switch to light the Green marking the official beginning of the Christmas Holidays in North Royalton. The usual festivities were cancelled due to Covid in 2020. The lighting tradition had humble beginnings in 1998 with $100 worth of lights for the pine tree by the old city hall. The festivities and lighting have grown during almost a quarter century to the delightful display it is today. The year 2021 is a joyous return of a great tradition. It takes a lot of planning and the work of many hands and the know-how of the Recreation Department to create this beautiful light display. So, with much anticipation, from the beautifully decorated Gazebo that is the crown jewel of the City Green, the Mayor flipped the switch and suddenly the City Green was aglow with the light framed images of reindeer, candles, toy train, elves, and others. One youngster was really startled by the sudden illumination of a reindeer he stood next to. He lightly traced the lights around the form while his dad cautioned, “Be careful, you could be lit up like the reindeer and you won’t like it.”
Much attention turned to Judy’s Chocolate Hut where huge vats of hot chocolate steamed and boiled as the ladies of the Lions Club poured hot chocolate from large pitchers and topped each cup off with a marshmallow.
The real line was for Santa of course. Just like the song Silver Bells: “Hear the snow crunch, see the kids bunch, this is Santa’s big scene…” Santa greeted all the admirers, the small and the tall, with a merry smile and a hearty Ho Ho Ho.
Youngsters and parents waited with patient anticipation. There were plenty of wee ones wrapped in blankets and held by their parents. One-year-old Brady Repasy waited with his cousins, Blake Repasy, 4 mos., and Chloe Costanza, 7 mos. firmly held by loving parents waiting for a picture with Santa. Further down in line, Holly Andrews, 3, and her brother David, 6, got permission from mom, Anna, to tell their secret wishes; a Pinky Pie Pony and Anything Pokémon. Annabella Gedeon, a fourth grader at the new Royalton Elementary school wanted another Barbie. But, her brother Joseph, a first grader wanted “a nerf gun and stuffed animals so I can go on a safari.” The Monroe sisters, Sydney, Avvy and Maya, wanted dolls; Rapunzel, Pocahontas, and Mérida from Brave. The Lenny family came with three adults and six kids. The adults were going to ask Santa for a good nights sleep. And so, the merry makers lingered on till Santa heard all the special wishes.
Give yourself a holiday treat and drive by the City Green for a Christmas Card come to life. It’s Christmas time in North Royalton.
“On behalf of the North Royalton Holiday Lighting Committee, we want to thank the students from the NRHS National Honor Society and the High School Key Club for their help in decorating the Santa House and Judy’s Chocolate Cafe,” said Gail Holzman and Tony Sandora, Co-Chairmen of the Holiday Lighting Committee. “A special thank you to Emma Kolich, Nancy Patel, Ava Panigutti, Emma Kraynik, Lilly Visu, Charles Cao and Jeylyn White. Your help was priceless!”
By LINDA KWARCIANY
Contributing Writer
