Gatlinburg Fetes Schwan’s Christmas Parade Winners

GATLINBURG – The City’s Department of Tourism has recognized a prestigious group of entries in the Schwan’s Gatlinburg Fantasy of Lights Christmas Parade as the best of the best in six specific categories. Under the theme, “Magical Lights, Magical Nights,” millions of twinkling lights and more than 100 parade entries including floats, giant helium balloons, marching bands, twirling group, horse clubs, emergency units and rolling vehicles participated in the 31st annual Schwan’s Christmas parade on Friday, Dec. 1 in downtown. A crowd in excess of 80,000 people of all ages gathered for the popular parade sponsored by the Schwan Food Company, which distributed hundreds of stuffed or twinkling toys. Results of the judging include: • Best Marching Band - Albertville High School Marching Aggies Band from Albertville, Alabama. • Mt. LeConte Award (Best Professional Float) - Park Vista Hotel and Convention Center, Gatlinburg. • Spur Award (Best Equestrian Unit) - Reese Thornton & Beanpole Taylor’s Wagon and Mule Team from Cosby, sponsored by Atchley-Cox-McCroskey Insurance of Sevier County. • Mountaineer Award (Best Non-Professional Float) - In His Name Clown and Puppet Ministry from Horseshoe, North Carolina. • George Hawkins Award (Most Entertaining Entry) - Ginger Brown’s Academy of Performing Arts from Chattanooga. • Best Use of Lights - Great Smoky Mountains Murder Mystery Theater from Pigeon Forge. The Schwan’s Fantasy of Lights parade will be broadcast on WATE Channel 6 on Saturday, December 23 at 7 p.m., with Tearsa Smith and Bo Williams anchoring the coverage. The broadcast of the parade will also begin running daily on Gatlinburg PEG Channel 4 on Charter Cable in Sevier County beginning next week. Gatlinburg’s next big special event is its 19th annual New Year’s Eve Ball Drop and Pyrotechnic Show at the Space Needle late on Sunday night, December 31. At the stroke of midnight on January 1, 2007, the Space Needle area will light up with a fireworks and music show. The event is free to the public and will feature music and free party favors.