GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The cold certainly did not stop people from showing up and having a good time at the 38th annual Green Bay Holiday Parade.
Some were not bothered by the weather.
“I mean I didn’t have any issue with it, we’ve got blankets, we’ve got hot chocolate, we came prepared I mean it’s Wisconsin and this is what you got to do you got to be ready for this type of thing,” says Tim McIntosh.
Kate Lockwood says they did the best they could to stay warm.
“We’ve got lots of hot drinks, sleeping bags, coats and layers and we’re bundled up, and it still didn’t work…we’re still cold.”
But she says she still had fun.
“All the floats and the balloons and everything it was really cool, it’s worth it.”
The cold temperatures stopped the marching bands from being able to march the entire way through the parade.
Many parade goers had different feelings about the bands not coming all the way through, but they said they still enjoyed all the parade had to offer, and loved to see Santa at the end.
“We’re sad but it’s okay, I mean there’s plenty of candy to eat so maybe next year,” says Christine Robarge.
“I remember when I was in marching band and it was tough, so that was a smart decision by somebody there for the kids,” says Lockwood.
The West De Pere Middle School Dance Team made it all the way through the parade and battled the cold.
“We did a lot of run-throughs of our routine and we were all hugging each other and keeping each other warm,” says dancer Emily Christensen.
They did the best they could to stay warm.
“Hand warmers, moving around,” says dancer Halie Merckx.
But some dancers said they wish they did more.
“I should have worn more gloves. My hands are literally dead, same with my toes,” says dancer Brooklyn Kelnhofer.
“I think we should have done more layers because lots of us were really cold,” says dancer Anna Heraly.
Despite the weather, everyone at the parade was happy to be there.
“I think the favorite part of the parade for me has got to be the sense of the community that it brings together, if its not farmers market season its Christmas season and they never fail here downtown,” says McIntosh.
Cold temps or not, The Downtown Appleton Christmas Parade is set to go Tuesday night.
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