Comic Book Christmas Parade a dazzling, dizzying display of Christmas gaiety, joy

TAKING THE TOWN BY STORM: Corinna Cole, a contributing writer with The Voice, waves to the crowd as she nears the Common during Rochester's Christmas Parade on Sunday. (Rochester Voice photos)

ROCHESTER - Superheroes of every ilk took to the streets on Sunday as Rochester's Comic-Book themed Christmas Parade brought a veritable panoply of protectors to ring in the holidays Rochester style.

The parade featured nearly 60 entries, with Best of Parade going to "Christmas in Gotham" by Douglas Robbins, which also won the Community Division.

The Organization Division was won by Rochester Youth Spirit, with second place going to Girl Scouts - Community 223. Third place went to American Legion Post 7.

WINNER OF BEST OF SMILE: Ensconced in a warm blanket with her trusted unicorn at her feet, a young girl waves to The Rochester Voice vehicle during Sunday's Christmas Parade in Rochester.

The Commercial Division was won by Studio 109 Dance, Voice and Drama followed by KOA - Lebanon and Strafford.

The parade route began at Spaulding High, then followed Wakefield and Union streets before turning on to North and South Main streets where it disbanded at the Common.

Providing entertainment along the route were the Spaulding High School

Rochester Voice President Martha T. Soto Galicia waves to the crowd during Sunday's Christmas Parade. Driving is Bob Knowlton of Rochester Toyota along with his wife, Gail.

Red Raider Marching Band, the Wells (Maine) High School Band and the Claddagh Mhor Pipe Band.

The parade's Grand Marshals were the 2021 Business of the Year - The Rochester Voice, the 2021 Nonprofit of the Year - the Monarch School of New England, and the 2021 Citizens of the Year - Alicia Frye and Jeanne Varney Grover.

Other VIPs included leaders of the Rochester Fire and Police departments, city officials and of course, Santa, himself.

The parade, which started about 15 minutes late due to a late-arriving banner for one of the groups, ran about a half-hour from stem to stern, with

Riding in back are Little Miss Granite State Kylee McKenna, Jr. Miss Granite State Irelyn Pagluca and Teen Miss Granite State Caylee Allen

the streets packed on both sides right out of the gate on Wakefield Street.

The Rochester Voice editor Harrison Thorp and its president, Martha T. Soto Galicia, were conveyed in a brand new Toyota driven by Bob and Gail Knowlton of Middleton. Bob Knowlton, a sales associate at the dealership, said the

COULD IT BE THE ROCHESTER VOICE WATCHDOG ICON? A pooch goes to alert mode upon spying The Rochester Voice vehicle during Rochester's Christmas Parade on Sunday

crowd of thousands was one of the largest he'd seen.

One of the digital daily's columnists, Corinna Cole, added to the merriment, dressed as comic book superhero Storm.

The Holiday Events Committee, which was chaired this year by former Fire Chief Norm Sanborn, worked with the Rochester Police Department to coordinate traffic control. Deputy Chief Gary Boudreau and Matt Beaulieu of Service Credit Union also worked with traffic control volunteers from the community assigning them to various spots along the parade route. Members of the Great Bay Radio Club did traffic control at the parade assembly area.

Other members of the committee include Lisa

WAGONS Ho! Ho! Ho! A team of horses with Sheila Penney and Marilyn Kelley at the helm prior to the start of Rochester's Holiday Parade on Sunday.

Clark, Rochester Public Works; Gloria Gagnon, Bernier Insurance; Tanya Hervey, Chamber of Commerce; Alan Johnson, Atlantic Broadband; Maggie Marcotte-Tewell, New England Marketing & Print, Inc.; Janet Oliver, Unitil; Laura Ring, Chamber of Commerce; Tatjana Simon, Northeast Credit Union.

In addition to members of the committee and Chamber staff, the following volunteered their time to help with the assembly and line-up of the parade:

Paul Berry, Paul Berry's Electric Service;

Angie Gray, City of Rochester;

Mary Henderson, Bank of

A happy group of parade revelers wave to The Rochester Voice vehicle during Sunday's parade.

New Hampshire;

Tanya Hervey, Tanya Lee Hervey Photography; Alan Johnson, Atlantic Broadband; Kaley Patterson; Emily Pelletier; Steve Ring, Compass Home Inspections, LLC; Catherine Tewell, Rochester Schools; Maggie Tewell, New England Marketing & Print.

The parade was underwritten by Service Credit Union. Cremmen Creative provided taping of the parade, which will be viewable on Atlantic Broadband and Comcast cable systems.

The parade can be viewed by clicking here.