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'So many people, so many floats': Residents turn out for Cumming Christmas parade, festival
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A Jeep covered in Christmas lights drives in the 2018 Cumming Christmas Parade and Festival on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. - photo by Ben Hendren

The crowd packed both sides of the route on Saturday, undeterred by a bit of sprinkling rain, as floats carrying community leaders, members of businesses and local groups rolled from Forsyth Central High School to the Cumming Fairgrounds for the inaugural Cumming Christmas Parade.

“It was awesome,” said Mayor Troy Brumbalow. “There were so many people, so many floats. It went on for over an hour… Forsyth Central’s band started it off with a bang. It was awesome, and I can’t wait to do it again next year.”

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Cumming Mayor Troy Brumbalow disguised in a Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer waves to the crowd during the 2018 Cumming Christmas Parade and Festival on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. - photo by Ben Hendren

Despite being the first Christmas parade in downtown Cumming in more than a decade, a large crowd of members of the community and visitors were on hand to check out floats, spend time with friends and family and catch candy being thrown from passers-by.

“I think it’s fantastic. It really is,” said Courtney Hamilton, whose daughter was in the parade with a local dance group. “Anything to bring the community together always works.”

Smith Tallant, who ran “some good miles” in the Jingle Jog 5K earlier that day and was still wearing his tracksuit, said he was impressed with how many folks stayed out despite the wet weather.

“It’s great. It’s impressive that this many people came out with the weather the way it is,” he said.  “I didn’t realize it was the first one. We just knew it was happening, so we came out.”

The parade followed the same route as the annual Thomas-Mashburn Steam Engine Parade on the Fourth of July and even had a steam engine of its own.

“We do the Fourth of July about every year, and the Christmas Parade is an awesome event for families,” said Jodie Tallant, who was marching in the parade with the North Georgia Quarter Midget Track’s float. “This is a great turnout. There’s a lot more kids here than there are at the Fourth of July (parade). It’s good for the sport and good for the city.”

The parade was capped off with the city’s Christmas Festival at the fairgrounds, which featured photos with Santa, offerings from several local vendors, an ice skating rink, snacks and a tree-lighting ceremony.

“It’s a lot of fun,” said Michele Charles, who was selling shirts at a booth for FoCo Grown. “There’s a lot of people here, so it’s pretty exciting. Everybody is kind of looking through seeing what all the vendors have. They did a good job planning it.”

We’re going to keep it going from now on. I think everybody enjoyed it, and it brought the community together.
Troy Brumbalow, Mayor of city of Cumming

At the festival, kids had the chance to make s’mores, get their face painted and get pictures with Santa.

“I like the characters, Santa,” said Brenda Sampson. “I think it’s really good.”

Her 2-year-old daughter, Hailey Sampson, was less enthusiastic about meeting Santa.

“I don’t want him,” she said.

One visitor to the county said there was a much more hometown, community feel than her residence in Chicago.

Brumbalow said he was impressed with the turnout from the community – especially given that it was the first year and didn’t have ideal weather – and said he planned to keep it going as long as he is mayor.

“Our city council, all of us, we had a great time,” Brumbalow said. “We’re going to keep it going from now on. I think everybody enjoyed it, and it brought the community together.”