Valerie Burgess sat in a chair along Russell Street with her nine-year-old daughter, Vacarie, sitting on her lap, a blue blanket draped over them both.

As the Orangeburg County Christmas Parade moved by Sunday afternoon, Valerie said “I’ve been coming since I was a child.”

“It’s tradition. If we’re not in the Christmas spirit, this kicks it in,” she said. And this has been one of those years, with all the talk of recession, that she needs help getting into the spirit. Her shopping isn’t done, and the decorations aren’t even up.

“Hopefully this will jump-start me like it used to,” she said as Vacarie started to bounce up and down to the sounds of South Carolina State University’s Marching 101.

Others could barely hold in the excitement, like the Rivelon Elementary School students who were participating in the parade. They waved and cried out “Hi, Mrs. Faust” as their principal, Paulette Faust, walked by prior to its start.

“It’s a prelude to Christmas and they are already excited about Christmas,” Faust said of the students. “You can feel it at school and you can feel it out here.”

This time of year, “everything excites them,” she said. “The adults are excited, too. We’ve just been trying to control ours.”

Along the parade route, everything was the same: children excited about everything from the bands to floats, like 8-year-old Jayron Haigler and his 7-year-old sister Sharonda Haigler. Jayron’s wanting a Playstation Portable, scooter and a race track for Christmas.

Barbara Williams waited to see her five grandchildren pass by in the parade.

“They’re excited. They like the parade, they like Santa Claus,” she said. But she reminds folks, “Jesus is the reason for the season.”

That was the message of the float from Amazing Grace Church. The church’s float featured children in a biblical Christmas scene.

“That’s our theme: From the manger to the cross. And these youngsters are having a ball,” said Pastor Dale Phillips. The float not only offered a chance for kids to have fun, but for the church to share God’s grace, he said.

As a participant in the Mr. and Mrs. Orangeburg Area Development Center’s float, 4-year-old Tiarah Mims wasn’t expecting to see Santa Claus ride by. But she wasn’t worried that she’d miss the chance to request toys and cupcakes, saying “I’ll see him later.”

And while four-year-old Cameron Singleton found the festivities overwhelming, he could still announce he wants Thomas the Tank Engine toys for Christmas.

Five-year-old Amoni Grant waited in anticipation for Santa, who she’s hoping will bring her a cookie table. With her was 5-year-old Chyna Riley, who wants a DVD player.

And then Santa, with his full white beard and red suit, rode by in the fire truck and waved to them both.

“He said ‘Merry Christmas’ and I said ‘Merry Christmas,’ too,” Chyna said.

n T&D City Editor Gene Crider can be reached by e-mail at gcrider@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5570. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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