What a difference a year made at the annual Santa Parade as hundreds lined the streets along Shawano’s Main Street Friday.
The event was postponed one week last year due to subzero temperatures, but weather hovering around 32 degrees Friday encouraged one family to attend for the first time.
Brian Berg and his wife, Dawn, arrived with their children, 11-year-old son Matthew and 7-year-old daughter Emily, and his mother-in-law Chris Giese. They moved to Shawano six years ago.
“It is just the warmer temperatures. We’ve always wanted to come, but it has always been much colder than this,” Berg said.
Cold weather never deterred Cecil residents Joanne and Bill Wegnar from returning to the annual parade.
Joanne and her husband of 27 years began coming to the parade about 10 years ago while they were residents of Shawano, and reflected on past parades where they have enjoyed the experience of a community coming together.
“One year it was so cold, the bands couldn’t play, because the instruments could not work properly,” Wegnar said. “But it is about the community getting together and watching all of the kids get excited is the highlight.”
Tim Dreier of Dreier’s Pharmacy was one of the parade marshals this year, and said his three children were enthused to be along the parade route. His children are 11-year-old Avery, 9-year-old Riley and 6-year-old Anna.
“My children were very excited about it, they are younger. They were very happy they saw their fellow classmates along the way. Unfortunately, they threw most of the candy out too soon, but they had a great time,” Tim Dreier said.
Dreier’s father, Don, who established the downtown business in 1967 with his wife Jana, believes it was a long-awaited honor for the dedication he put into the community.
“He doesn’t show a lot of expression, but my dad was the one that started this business, and I know deep down he is very proud and honored to be selected for this,” said Tim Dreier.
In Tim Dreier’s 25 years working at the pharmacy, he has witnessed the parade in some capacity, including last year when he watched from inside the business.
He said the parade had a better turnout from his perspective compared to last year.
“It was just very pleasing to see all of the people, and we appreciated the honor of being selected,” Tim Dreier said. “It was nice to see the families get together to celebrate the holiday season. It was a great honor to be a part of it.”
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