Festive floats greet Santa's arrival in Jewett City

Jennavee, 2, of Jewett City, is all wrapped up for Christmas. Photos by Janice Steinhagen.

Despite her ball gown finery, Cinderella was not all that happy about settling down in her cloud-covered “coach” with Prince Charming. The prince, clad in a dapper suit, protested loudly himself. It took the concerted efforts of their parents to coax a smile from the 2-year-old royals and settle them into their decorated wagon.

Brooke, of Sterling, and Collin, of Griswold, portrayed the fairy-tale couple in one of many kids’ floats entered in Griswold’s 12th annual Snowflake Festival parade Nov. 18. Along with the other entrants, they waited in the parking lot of Jewett City Savings Bank for their chance to join the procession to Veterans Memorial Park to meet Santa.

The jolly old elf was the main attraction for 4-year-old Rhylee, of Plainfield. “I love you, Santa!” she shouted at the top of her lungs from the parade’s sidelines as Santa’s horse-drawn carriage rolled by. Santa and Mrs. Claus were enthroned in the park gazebo after the parade, to speak to a long line of their young admirers.

Community groups ranging from Cub Scouts and Brownies to Griswold seniors and the Red Hat Society joined the festive procession, along with floats from area businesses. Dogs and horses in festive holiday attire were much in evidence, as were classic and specialty vehicles. Music was provided by the Griswold High School marching band. Religious education students from the combined Catholic parishes of St. Mary, St. Thomas-St. Ann and St. Catherine of Siena portrayed what their banner proclaimed was the “reason for the season” – the nativity of Jesus, complete with a band of angels, a stuffed donkey and Wise Men handing out sweet treats to spectators from their “treasure chests.”

The float contest was jointly sponsored by Jewett City Savings, Eastern Federal and Putnam banks, and judged by members of the festival committee. The winners in each category were:

Age 3 and under: 1- Parker & Paxton Benoit; 2- Jenavee Klewin; 3- Collin Perry & Brooke Gwiazdowski

Age 4 through 6: 1- Tristan DuBois; 2- Kaylee & Kelsey Riley; 3- Melissa Weinberg

Age 7 through 10: 1- Eliana Demicco; 2- Cori Atkins; 3- Alexis Langlois