By Linda Beatty

BOYKINS
With the unusually warm weather on Dec. 13, it felt like there should have been a Fourth of July parade instead of our 41st Annual Christmas Parade in Boykins. The warm weather really brought out the participants: two bands, 18 emergency units, 15 antique cars and trucks, four horses and a variety of about 50 other entries ranging from elaborately decorated floats to walking groups to motorcycles to queens to council members to decked-out vehicles.

It was a beautiful day for the parade, and the sponsors (Boykins Lions Club, Main Street Initiative, GFWC Tarrara Woman’s Club and the Town of Boykins) wish to thank all who participated. A special thank you is extended to the law enforcement officers of the town and county who helped ensure we had a safe event. Thanks also to all those who lined the street to watch the parade — it would not be the same without spectators.

Winners of the float awards were:

• Most Appealing to Children: Bank of Southside Virginia, first place; New Bethel Baptist Church, second place.

• True Meaning of Christmas: Boykins United Methodist Church Youth Group, first place; Galilee Baptist Church, second place.

• Most Original, Renaissance Faire, first place; Good News Worship Center, second place.

• Best in Parade went to the Santa float.