By Kim McDarison
Main Street Saturday was lined with enthusiastic mirth-makers as holiday-themed floats and displays paraded through Fort Atkinson.
With temperatures in the 30s, attendees braved the cold, which was complemented by snow flurries as members of the city’s police and public works departments set up road blocks along the parade route and directed traffic. Parade-goers, many of whom had placed blankets and lawn chairs along the route in advance of the parade, found their seating dusted with fresh snow.
The holiday lighted parade featured displays of all shapes and sizes, from bundled children with cheeks aglow pulled in wagons by parents to jubilantly decorated fire trucks and a cement mixer.
Found within the lineup were mascots, dogs, horses, and even the cast from Fort Atkinson High School’s production of “Elf, the Musical.”
The parade was complete with an appearance made by “Santa and Mrs. Claus.”
This year marks the 26th anniversary of the holiday parade, which featured more than 40 entries, according to information provided by the Fort Atkinson Area Chamber of Commerce, which is annually the parade’s organizing sponsor. The parade lasted nearly an hour.
Photos from the event follow.
An American Legion Post honor guard is among the first parade entries to arrive on Main Street.
A Festival Foods parade float enters the intersection of Milwaukee Avenue and Main Street in downtown Fort Atkinson.
Members of the Blackhawk Marching Band are among parade participants during Fort Atkinson’s Holiday Lighted Parade held Saturday.
Marching band members perform on Main Street.
Marching band members move through the intersection of Milwaukee Avenue and Main Street.
Band members continue north on Main Street.
A young marcher is part of the K-Taekwonda and Martial Arts of Fort Atkinson group.
Parade participants ride on a float provided by the Lions Club of Fort Atkinson.
An entry representing the Humane Society of Jefferson County makes its way north on Main Street.
Deer illuminate the night as part of a float entered by Atkinson Maintenance.
Music performed by “Apex” emanates from a float presented by Rock River Dental.
Cub Scout Pack 137 moves through the intersection of Milwaukee Avenue and Main Street.
A float entered by Cub Scout Pack 137 is populated by cheerful holiday inflatables.
The Ozinga “Merry Mixer turns from Milwaukee Avenue onto Main Street. The parade showpiece travels throughout the Midwest each holiday season.
The Merry Mixer enters the intersection of Milwaukee Avenue and Main Street. This is the second time the mixer has participated in the Fort Atkinson Holiday parade. Ozinga is an Illinois-based concrete supplier with locations and employees living in Wisconsin.
Fort Atkinson Community Girl Scouts greet parade-goers at the intersection of Milwaukee Avenue and Main Street.
Girl Scouts march along Main Street.
A Girl Scout waves to the crowd.
Scouts continue north on Main Street.
Scouts sport festive and imaginative outfits as they wave to the crowd.
A team of “reindeer” makes its way down Main Street.
A holiday pig lights a float entered by Fort Atkinson FFA.
Members of the Rock River Clovers wave from their float as they travel along Main Street.
A “penguin” distributes candy as she walks along Main Street.
A float entered by Oak Tree Child and Family Services continues the penguin theme.
Members of the Democratic Party of Jefferson County parade along Main Street.
A parade entry from PK Contractors moves through the intersection of Milwaukee Avenue and Main Street.
Members of the Kennel Club of Fort Atkinson carry the groups banner as they march along Main Street.
A large dog pulls a cart which carries a smaller canine companion.
Pups and their owners greet parade-goers along Main Street.
Members of the Fort Atkinson Wrestling Club parade along Main Street.
The group moves through the intersection of Milwaukee Avenue and Main Street.
Entries of all sizes populate the parade.
A festively decorated ATV moves through the intersection of Milwaukee Avenue and Main Street.
Wrestling club members march along Main.
A youngster is tucked in among the decorations aboard a float entered by Eby Family Dental.
A second youngster aboard the float beams with enthusiasm.
A tooth mascot waves to the crowd.
A float entered by Salty Buffalo Trading Co., moves north along Main Street.
Parade participants riding aboard a float entered by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and School wave to the crowd.
Cast and crew members from the Fort Atkinson High School production of “Elf, the Musical,” march in the parade. The musical will be presented at the Fort Atkinson High School Performing Arts Center Thursday, Nov. 17, through Sunday, Nov. 20. For information and tickets, visit: https://fortatkinsonpac.com/events/.
Elf the Musical cast members greet parade-goers at the intersection of Milwaukee Avenue and Main Street.
A decorated entry, presented by Rock River Optical, moves through the intersection of Milwaukee Avenue and Main Street.
A group from Fort Atkinson Community Credit Union greet parade-goers and hand out candy.
A mascot and its helper ride aboard a Fort Atkinson Community Credit Union float.
Dogs and their human companions representing Paddy’s Paws march along Main Street.
Gemuetlichkeit Days mirth-makers clap and dance as they enter the intersection of Milwaukee Avenue and Main Street.
The dancers set a festive mood.
Following the dancers, the Gemuetlichkeit Days float turns from Milwaukee Avenue onto Main Street.
An equine participant and its human companion greet parade-goers along Main Street. The two are among parade participants representing The Wishing Star Barn.
A horse and rider representing The Wishing Star Barn travel along Main Street.
Children greet the crowd while riding aboard the “Polar Express.” The float was entered by Blodgett Pet and Garden Center.
Children wave to parade-goers from their seats aboard the Polar Express.
A Shopko Eye Care representative distributes candy.
A youngster rides on the Shopko Eye Care float.
Children are pulled in wagons along Main Street as part of a Fort Atkinson Preschool and Childcare parade entry.
Sons of the American Legion march through the intersection of Milwaukee Avenue and Main Street.
A driver waves to the crowd as he maneuvers the Jones Market float through an intersection.
A member of “Jonesville” waves to the crowd.
The Grinch is among those traveling aboard the Jones Market float.
A Grinch takes a moment to pet his dog before continuing his march along Main Street.
Parade participants, dressed as angels greet the crowd. They marched with a group from Crown of Life Christian Academy, which sported on its parade banner the phrase: “Angels we have heard on high.”
The Fort Atkinson semi turns from Milwaukee Avenue onto Main Street.
Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive by carriage.
Fans cheer as the couple moves into the intersection of Milwaukee Avenue and Main Street.
A young fan runs to the carriage to make an acquaintance with Santa.
Brightly decorated with myriad lights , several Fort Atkinson Fire Department trucks travel in the parade.
A fire truck makes a turn onto Main Street.
Officer Lawrence, with the Fort Atkinson Police Department, at right, accompanied by a cadet, ride at the end of the parade, marking the end of the holiday event.
Fort Atkinson Police Chief Adrian Bump, at left, and Capt. Chad Lange maintain security during the parade at the intersection of Milwaukee Avenue and Main Street.
Children wait at the curb along Milwaukee Avenue for the parade to begin.
Bundled against the cold, these twins and their mom make their way across Main Street in advance of the parade.
Youngsters brave the cold as they wait for the parade.
A PremierBank mascot and its helper walk along Main Street.
Members of the Coy family, Josie, 6, at left, and her brother, Lyric, 3, wait for the parade to begin. The family is from Fort Atkinson.
Michael Jacobson, 3, Fort Atkinson, and his cousin, Alivia Wills, 5 months, Jefferson, wait for the parade to begin.
A PremierBank mascot visits with parade-goers in advance of the parade.
Wearing warm and festive attire, Fort Atkinson residents arrive early to find a spot along Main Street from which to watch the parade.
Kim McDarison photos.