Roanoke celebrates Christmas with annual parade 1958

About 33 thousand people gathered in downtown Roanoke streets last night to gawk, gape and stare at the 1958 Christmas Parade. (Start film) It was the largest such event in the history of this area and the crowd may have set a record, too. (Show film) Religious motifs were prevalent in the 1958 Roanoke Merchants Association Parade. No commercialism was allowed. Thousands more stayed home and watched the parade over WSLS-TV, which telecast every exciting moment of it. A lot of eyes were focused on pretty Carolyn Epperson, this years snow queen. Other contestants served as maids of honor. All told, there were 130 units in the long line of march. This included 12 bands with strutting majorettes. Each one played Christmas music, but none used the same tempo. Clowns, too, had their place in the spectacle. The weather wasnt bad, either. About 40 degrees, which helped bring out the spectators. Of course the biggest thrill of the night came when Santa Claus put in his appearance, perched atop a large float and sitting in a small replica of a sleigh. This was the moment of moments for the small fry as the man in the red suit, laughed and waved to the spectators who packed the parade route. (Back to M.)