Floats Receive Awards
The Marshall Christmas Parade had a special honor this year in the person of special float judge Barb Grant. One of the annual awards given out is the Jim Grant Memorial Award, which honors her late husband. Jim Grant is fondly remembered for his 30 years of adorning Marshall with Christmas lights and decorations during his time employed with the City of Marshall.
The theme for Marshall’s 2022 Christmas Parade was “Snow Globe Scenes.” Floats were decorated showing what the company or group imagined would be inside their snow globe. Many store windows in downtown Marshall are decorated as snow globes, and it is also the theme of the new magical Christmas video at www.ChooseMarshall.com.
The Jim Grant Memorial Winner was Gutters R Us and New Horizon Property Management. Their float showed the Grinch on a sleigh who had escaped a snow globe after kids taught him the magical, wonderful meaning of Christmas.
The Jim Grant Memorial Honorable Mention went to Comcast Urethane and Spray Metal with their “Winter Wonderland” float and delightful little ponies that pulled a small sleigh in tight circles and spirals. The Jim Grant award is given out to entries in the commercial category.
Elbert Vincent was a member of the Marshall Moose Lodge 676 and for many years lived their mission of community service by organizing the Marshall Christmas Parade. The non-commercial float awards are given out in his honor.
The Elbert Vincent Memorial Winner was the American Legion, Oscar Brady Post 298 out of Battle Creek. Their giant green castle showed Santa’s Toy Shop in wonderful detail.
The Elbert Vincent Memorial Honorable Mention went to “Santa’s Helpers” made by Marshall Daisy’s and Brownies from the 1st through 3rd grades with Girl Scout Troop 80159.
The overall float winner is awarded the Ken Burden Memorial Award. Ken was the town Santa for 23 years, from 1949 to 1972, and he and his wife, Evna, were Grand Marshal’s in 1973.
The Ken Burden Memorial Winner was the Marshall Rotary Club with its float “It’s a Candy Cane Kind of Christmas”. The float, driven by Paul Davis, included Frosty the Snowman, plenty of presents for Christmas morning, a fireplace with stockings hung with care and the Polar Express Train running under the Christmas Tree.
With 106 amazing and entertaining entries in the 2022 Marshall Christmas Parade, the judges did not have an easy task. In addition to Barb Grant, we give thanks to the other judges, Melissa Winchell and Stacy Livingstone, along with their leader, Tom Sharpley. Tom organized the parade for 25 years and after “retiring” from that roll he has lead the judging every year.
Many thanks are also given to the volunteers and public safety officers who made this parade possible with their time and energy, and also the sponsors of the Christmas lights and decorations. Major sponsors include Eaton Corporation, FireKeepers Casino Hotel, Hungry Howies Pizza, Bud’s Towing & Automotive, Cresco Labs, Oaklawn Hospital, Sturgis Bank, Darling ACE Hardware, Corrigan Oil, EG Workforce Solutions, Hewitt Building Co, Marshall Excelsior Company and Binder Park Zoo. Many others contributed to the fund, including all of those who sponsored the Celebration of Trees which now decorate Michigan Avenue planters. You all help to make Marshall magical for the holidays.
Jim Grant Memorial Winner was Gutters R Us and New Horizon Property Management.
Jim Grant Memorial Honorable Mention went to Comcast Urethane and Spray Metal.
Comcast Urethane and Spray Metal little ponies pulling a sleigh.
Elbert Vincent Memorial Honorable Mention went to “Santa’s Helpers” made by Marshall Daisy’s and Brownies from the 1st through 3rd grades with Girl Scout Troop 80159.
Ken Burden Memorial Winner was the Marshall Rotary Club with its float “It’s a Candy Cane Kind of Christmas”.