Attendees of the 25th Annual Fort Atkinson Lighted Holiday Parade packed the streets Saturday with festive parade-goers both young and old.
Draped in blankets, winter clothes, and some even in costume, parade-goers were eager to see the 50 lighted floats and other entries, and children scrambled to collect candy as the various displays, many of which distributed treats, passed by.
Among entries this year were American Legion Post, Atkinson Maintenance, Blackhawk Marching Band, Brownie Girl Scouts, Capputan, Crown of Life, Cub Scouts Pack 137 & Pack 184, Dementia Friendly Community Network, Democratic Party of Jefferson County, Double Three Transportation, Fort Driftskippers Snowmobile Club, Eby Family Dental, Fort Community Credit Union, Festival Foods, FFA, Fort Atkinson Equestrian Team, Fort Atkinson Fire Department, Fort Atkinson Girl Scouts, Fort Atkinson Wrestling Club, Fort Atkinson Varsity Football Team, Fort Ace Hardware, Fort Lions Club, Friends of Haumerson’s Pond, Gemuetlichkeit Days, GFL Environmental, Hebron Knights ATV Club, Homes for Independent Living, Johnson Financial Group, Jones Market, Kennel Club of Fort Atkinson, LettsewK9 Foundation, Mueller and Sons, Ozinga, PK Contractors Inc, Premier Bank, Reena Senior Living, Robins Nest Styling Salon, Rock River Clovers 4H Club, Rock River Dental, School District of Fort Atkinson, Congressman Scott Fitzgerald, Shopko Eye Care Center, Sleek Coating, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, St. Paul’s Lutheran School, St. Pauls’ Food Pantry, The Unity Project, and W&A Distribution Services.
“Mr. and Mrs. Claus rode in the parade in a horse-drawn carriage spooned by Badger Basement Systems.
The parade, which is hosted by the Fort Atkinson Area Chamber of Commerce, was live-streamed this year, thanks to sponsor Homes for Independent Living, a MyPath Company, according to a press released shared by the chamber.
Parade entries traveled down Milwaukee Avenue to downtown Fort Atkinson, continuing north on Main Street, and completed the holiday promenade at Festival Foods on Madison Avenue.
This year, the parade was coordinated by a chamber committee led by Marissa Weidenfeller. Other committee members included Cori Bleecker, Candy Allard, Stacy Poole and Ethan Steinbach, with support from the City of Fort Atkinson police department and public works.
Pictures of the parade follow.
An enthusiastic young elf pokes his head out of an ornately decorated gingerbread house to wave at parade-goers.
Eager for the parade to start, a family finds space at the intersection of Milwaukee Avenue and Main Street.
A colorful parade-goer waits for the festivities to begin.
A nativity scene, complete with a Wisconsin badger, is among entries supplied by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and St. Paul’s Lutheran School.
Elves accompany the Festival Foods entry, which was a giant shopping cart decked out with lights.
The 2021 Badger Small Conference Champions march down Main Street.
This sleeping snowman remained undisturbed as members of Capputan, a gourmet coffee and tanning salon, pulled him by truck down Main Street.
A guitar-playing pup waves to crowds. He was part of a float supplied by FCCU.
Looking at the crowds, Santa seems perplexed that so many kids live in and around Fort Atkinson. Fort Atkinson Online is sure he will adjust well before Christmas.
Members of the Blackhawk Marching Band perform as they march along Main Street.
Swaddled in blankets, this young resident enjoys her first Fort Atkinson Annual Holiday Parade.
A school bus decked out by Double 3 bus company makes it way down Main Street.
A family of snowmen find a ride on the School District of Fort Atkinson float.
This crowd is most pleased as parade entries keep a steady stream of candy coming.
Merry-makers sport colorful clothes and costuming.
And speaking of merry, the Merry Mixer, a parade piece provided by Ozinga, a concrete company in Illinois, makes its second appearance of this year’s holiday season and its first appearance ever in the Fort Atkinson Lighted Holiday Parade. The truck has a season-long itinerary that covers three states.
Two young girls light the way as parade entries make their turn from Milwaukee Avenue onto Main Street.
This happy snowman, sponsored by Johnson Bank, dances his way down Main Street.
Two humans and an E.T. tailgate together as they follow a trail of light.
One of several Hebron Knights ATV club riders navigates Main Street.
A rainbow-colored unicorn waves to the crowd from the Unity Project float.
Representatives of the Fort Atkinson Homeless Coalition distribute candy.
Santa’s sleigh waits behind the Fort Atkinson Wrap semi as the parade takes a short pause. Floats of all variety, from traditional to modern themes, filled the 25th Annual Holiday Parade.
U.S. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, Republican, representing Wisconsin’s 5th District, waves to the crowd as he marches along Main Street.
A member of the Democratic Party of Jefferson County waves to the crowd from aboard the organization’s float.
The American Legion Post 166 color guard leads the parade down Main Street.
The children of three families, all cousins, watch the parade from Main Street.
Girl scouts march down Main Street.
A St. Paul’s Lutheran School student collects food for the Fort Atkinson Food Pantry.
PremierBank employees man a warming station, complete with hot chocolate and goodies, in front of the bank building on Main Street.
Riders on a Crown of Life float smile and wave to the crowd.
A float titled, “Do you see what I see,” is a shimmering entry supplied by Shopko Optical.
A family of “Grinches” watch the parade from Main Street.
Armed with a plethora of light, this family is ready to watch the parade.
The Fort Atkinson Police Department, traveling at the parade’s end, completes the evening’s festivities.
Kim McDarison photos.
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