Christmas In Putnam

PALATKA –It’s Christmas in Putnam County.

Festivities got underway with the annual Christmas parade Nov. 25, and next is the Christmas Tour of Homes from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 3 beginning at The Bronson Mulholland House, 100 Madison St.

Parade winners

People lined a dozen blocks along St. Johns Avenue the day after Thanksgiving to take in the annual nighttime Christmas parade that drew more than 100 entries.

Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Masons, beauty queens, horses, gymnasts, Rotarians, floats, antique cars, drum lines and bands took part in the parade.

Three grand marshals led off the parade.

Outgoing Putnam County Commissioner Nancy Harris was saying her farewells. She’s served as a commissioner several terms and decided not to seek re-election. Harris is a former mayor of Crescent City.

Sharing space in an antique car were the other two marshals – Chris and Bess Efstathion. The Efstathions own Kiddie Kampus, a downtown Palatka store they opened on Nov. 17, 1956. The couple has been married 63 years.

Parade winners were:

Best Marching Unit – Putnam Academy of Arts and Sciences

Best Decorated Vehicle – Moose On Bikes

Best Commercial Float – US Gymnastics

Best Church Float – St. Monica’s Catholic Church

Best School/Non-Profit – Round Lake School

Most Original Award – Steampunk Car

Judges’ Choice Award – Rachelsie Farm – “The Goat”