HARLEYVILLE -- The streets of Harleyville were beginning to look a lot like Christmas during the town's annual nighttime holiday parade Sunday. With bells and sirens blaring and lots and lots of multicolored lights, the more than 50 entries slowly proceeded down Main Street.

Mayor and Mrs. Charles Ackerman and members of Harleyville Town Council led the parade while hundreds of parade goers filled the streets in anticipation of the entries and lots of Christmas candy.

The cool evening welcomed area marching bands, fire departments from all over the Lowcountry and local law enforcement units strutting their stuff.

The majority of the parade participants were from local church groups, exhibiting the true meaning of the season, along with various businesses and industries.

The Submarine War Veterans, the U.S. Army and local ROTC troops proudly displayed patriotic as well as Christmas spirit during the procession. Beauty queens of all ages were intermingled between shimmering lights.

Dorchester County Councilmen Kenneth Waggoner and Willie Davis wished everyone a Merry Christmas. And, what would a Christmas parade be without the antics of the Shriners.

Of course, everyone's favorite, Santa Claus, did not disappoint as he cheered and waved from atop the Harleyville Fire Truck.

The winners of the Harleyville Christmas parade were:

* Marching Bands: Manning High School, first place; Woodland High School, second place.

* Fire Departments: Ridgeville Fire Department, first place; Summerville Fire Department, second place; St. George Fire Department, third.

* Commercial: LaFarge, first; First National Bank of S.C., second; Westbury Ace Hardware, third.

* Law Enforcement: Charleston County Motorcycle Unit and Summerville Motorcycle Group, tied for first; Charleston County Police, second; Dorchester County Sheriff's Department, third.

* Religious: Ridgeville Baptist Church, first; House of Prayer & Praise, second; First United Methodist of Harleyville, third.

* Non-Commercial: Dorchester County Career School, first; Harleyville-Ridgeville Elementary, second; Dorchester Academy Cheerleaders, third.

* Horses: Ute Reeves' Miniature Horses, first.

* Antique Tractors: A.C. Polk's pink tractor, first.

* Mayor's Choice: Giant Cement Co.

T&D Correspondent Sybil Butler can be reached by e-mail at butler_sybil@yahoo.com. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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