It was a jolly, holly Christmas parade Saturday in Atlanta, Texas

Atlanta, Texas, boosters turned out in full force to see a long parade, estimated by some onlookers as their biggest yet, made of of vehicles, marching bands, and even horses. The parade wound through Atlanta's downtown, and took about an hour to complete the route, from head to tail. (Staff photo by Junius Stone)
Atlanta, Texas, boosters turned out in full force to see a long parade, estimated by some onlookers as their biggest yet, made of of vehicles, marching bands, and even horses. The parade wound through Atlanta's downtown, and took about an hour to complete the route, from head to tail. (Staff photo by Junius Stone)

ATLANTA, Texas -- Parade spectators lined the streets of their city's Christmas parade route, especially their brightly lit downtown, as some of the shops and most of the restaurants remained open Saturday evening, anticipating the on rush of hungry parade-goers when the parade finished passing by. Indeed, small businesses participated in the parade, as some of the onlookers noted.

"I'm out here to support our town and especially our small businesses, being a small business owner, myself," said Justin Weeks, from nearby Queen City. He owns a pair of lube shops, in both Atlanta and Queen City.

"I've been coming to this parade since I was two years old," he said, noting it seems bigger than ever this year."

"Our kids are in this parade, band and cheer," said Amber Weeks, his wife. "We are out here to support our kids, all the kids in this parade, our community."

"Oh, and we are here for the candy, of course," said Justin Weeks, in regards to the continuous cascade of confections raining down from the passing floats as the parade drifted by the crowd.

Demeshia Gamble of Atlanta, Texas, was enjoying the extravaganza as well.

"I love it," she said. "I missed last years, so I had to see it this year. This has been an amazing spectacle, the lights, the music, the Grinch, I've loved it all. This is a great parade and it is great to see everyone out here supporting it and having a great time."

photo Atlanta, Texas, boosters turned out in full force to see a long parade, estimated by some onlookers as their biggest yet, made of of vehicles, marching bands, and even horses. The parade wound through Atlanta's downtown, and took about an hour to complete the route, from head to tail. (Staff photo by Junius Stone)
photo Atlanta, Texas, boosters turned out in full force to see a long parade, estimated by some onlookers as their biggest yet, made of of vehicles, marching bands, and even horses. The parade wound through Atlanta's downtown, and took about an hour to complete the route, from head to tail. (Staff photo by Junius Stone)
photo Atlanta, Texas, boosters turned out in full force to see a long parade, estimated by some onlookers as their biggest yet, made of of vehicles, marching bands, and even horses. The parade wound through Atlanta's downtown, and took about an hour to complete the route, from head to tail. (Staff photo by Junius Stone)

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