Holiday spirit filled the streets of Uptown Martinsville as the Martinsville Henry County Christmas Parade, sponsored by Crown Holdings, delighted thousands of attendees on Nov. 23. This year’s parade, the largest in its history, ran for nearly two hours with over 130 entries, including several first-time participants like Bassett Furniture.
Families, children, and community members lined the streets to enjoy the festive event. “I love the parade. I think it’s good for the community and brings everybody together,” said attendee Zoie Shough.
Martinsville’s Deputy Police Chief Chad Rhoads agreed, adding, “It’s good to see everybody come out and have a good time. The kids love it, and the adults love it too.”
Kaden Lucas, who was promoting a local event, noted the parade’s strong sense of community. “It’s such a community type of event. You can see that it’s filled out down here. It’s just a beautiful type of event,” he said.
Kicking Off the Festivities
The parade began with a color guard presenting the flags, setting a patriotic tone. Soon after, a lively float featuring “Squawkers the Turkey” rolled through, dropping off hosts Devin Pendleton and Tammy Pearson in front of the iconic Big Chair to provide live commentary on the parade.
“Everyone always talks about how our Christmas parade is before Thanksgiving, so now we have Squawkers to welcome Thanksgiving,” said Pearson, nodding to the tradition of the parade preceding the holiday.
Local leaders and notable figures joined the celebration, including Henry County Sheriff Wayne Davis, Martinsville Police Chief Rob Fincher, Martinsville Sheriff Steve Draper, Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell, City Manager Aretha Ferrell-Benavides, Council Member Kathy Lawson, and incoming City Council member Julian Mei.
Dr. Greg Hodges, President of Patrick & Henry Community College, served as the parade’s grand marshal, while high school bands from Magna Vista, Martinsville, and Bassett kept the crowd entertained with their spirited performances.
Festive Vehicles and Holiday Wishes
The parade featured an eclectic mix of vehicles, including motorcycles (with the Grinch as a surprise rider), ATVs, a parade of lawnmowers from The Mower Store, and a classic red firetruck carrying Sparky the Fire Dog. Go-karts and other floats added to the spectacle, drawing cheers and smiles from the crowd.
In the midst of the festivities, Chris Lawless, owner of Lawless Welding, used the opportunity to share a heartfelt holiday wish, that “we find a final home for the warming shelter that they can call their own,” he said, encouraging the crowd to applaud Ariel Johnson and the work of the warming center.
A Special Guest
The evening ended with a surprise appearance by Charles Roark, who delighted spectators by donning a Santa Claus costume to close the parade.
As the event concluded, organizers reflected on its success and looked ahead to next year. The Martinsville Henry County Christmas Parade will return in 2024, continuing a beloved tradition that unites the community in holiday joy.
