KALAMAZOO (WKZO-AM) — Tens of thousands lined downtown Kalamazoo streets on a cool but clear Saturday to jumpstart the holiday season and rekindle holiday spirits with one of the largest annual holiday parades in the state.
It was an interactive parade as children received candy from a number of parade participants and Goodwill handed out children’s books. At the same time, Loaves and Fishes collected donations of food and cash from the crowd. Mayor Bobby Hopewell and several other City Commissioners walked with the volunteers from the community’s food bank.
Giving and receiving, what could be more like Christmas.
There were cheers for the Western Michigan University Marching Band and for military groups on the day after Veteran’s Day.
Organizers estimated that about 40,000 lined the streets to watch over 100 units float by, the bands, the floats, the clubs and organizations and the big holiday balloons.
Jim McKinney and Ken Lanphear of Midwest Communications radio stations hosted Public Media Network’s live coverage of the annual parade. If you missed it the first time, or want to watch it again, they will be airing it through the holiday season.
