ARCHBOLD WEATHER

Special Olympics, ConAgra Join This Year’s Parade Of Lights





Fulton County Special Olympics and ConAgra join Archbold’s annual Parade of Lights as the event marks its ninth year, Friday, Nov. 23.

The parade starts at 6:30 pm.

The event kicks off the annual Festival of Lights, which features a new display in honor of the late Fred Witte, former Archbold Area Chamber of Commerce director.

Mari Yoder, AACC executive director, said the Special Olympics float in the parade will feature two actresses.

Alyson Stoner, a Toledo native, has appeared in movies, music videos, and television. Her movie roles include “Cheaper by the Dozen.” She’s been in music videos for Eminem and Missy Elliott, and was Max on the television show “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.”

Lindsay Taylor has appeared in TV and movie roles, including “Bratz: The Movie,” and on the TV series “7th Heaven.”

Yoder said both actresses are popular with pre-teen girls.

Daily Entries

Entries for the parade are coming in daily, she said.

“We’re hoping to have over 50 entries.”

The route remains the same for 2007. The parade will form on Walnut Street, then turn south onto North Defiance Street. The parade will continue south to Lugbill Road, where it will end.

The Archbold American Legion post and Archbold High School Blue Streak marching band will lead the parade, she said.

Festival

Following tradition, the parade will mark the start of the annual Festival of Lights, the holiday lights display in Ruihley Park.

The Witte family chose the new display. It features two elves at a workbench, busy making Christmas toys.

The display is animated, so visitors driving through Ruihley Park will see the elves hard at work.

Yoder said Witte, “would have enjoyed it, which is why the family picked it.”

The display was funded by memorials contributed in Witte’s honor.

In addition to his duties at the Chamber, Witte also served on Archbold village council and several other committees and organizations, and was 1991 Archbold Citizen of the Year.

He was instrumental in helping start the Festival of Lights. This is the 19th year for the Festival of Lights.

Witte died March 27, 2006.

Community

Yoder said the parade and the festival “create a sense of community spirit.

“It opens the doors of Archbold to people from other communities, to come and enjoy what we have to offer.

“It truly is a gift, because it’s free of charge,” she said.


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