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It's A Wonderful Life in Saline, MI

Saline Christmas Parade Saturday, December 1^st the 32^nd annual Christmas Parade is coming to downtown Saline, Mi.

The theme for 2007 is "It's A Wonderful Life in Saline". The theme was chosen this year in honor of Saline, Mi being twice named in the Top 100 Cities my CNN/Money Magazine.

The parade will begin at 5:30, with Michigan Avenue being blocked off. But, you can come early and experience the "Hustle and Bustle" with music and street entertainment at various locations.

HO HO HO Merry Christmas I started attending the Saline Christmas parade about 18 years ago. At that time, it was short and sweet. Now it is the parade that never ends. Boy Scout Troops, The Saline Marching Band, day-care centers, senior citizens, Ms. Saline, the twirlettes, floats, Paws for a Cause, Dance Alliance, Girl Scout Troops, churches and just about everyone participates in this annual holiday event. Sometimes I wonder, who isn't in the parade, but the sides are packed. Saline Twirlettes

The Kiwanis Club is always there giving away free hot-chocolate and popcorn. The Saline Christmas Parade is sponsored and coordinated every year by the Saline Chamber of Commerce. Many local businesses also contribute to make it a success. To see the list of sponsors for the 2007 Christmas Parade you can click here.

Santa's Village will be held immediately after the parade in the Chamber of Commerce building in down-town Saline.

MEMORIES

1) I have so many fond memories of the parade. One year, when Allyssa was only 7 months old, I held her under my coat nursing during a blizzard, because the other children didn't want to go and it was soooooooooo cold.

2) Years later I was able to watch her and her dance company Dance Alliance Repertory Company do a Rockettes dance down the middle of the street.

3) My husband coached Ann Arbor Jr Wolverines for 9 years and the year they won the State Championship, we had the whole team march in the parade, passing the football back and forth with the Championship Banner.

4) A few years ago, I was in charge of decorating the down-town area for the Chamber, we had so much fun buying all the accessories to be in the park behind Mac's Seafood Restaurant and Merchant Memorial Park.

5) For several years, RE/MAX had a float and one year we had the hot air balloon. That was nice it warmed everybody up as it went by.

When I sell houses to clients moving into Saline, Mi., I make sure they all know about the Christmas Parade. It is such a great event and being a small community it is so much fun to run into old friends and past clients.

Lots of memories at the Saline Christmas parade so I invite you to come out and make some of your own. This is one reason I love living in a small town.

SEE YOU AT THE PARADE Yes, it is "A Wonderful Life in Saline, Mi."

Posted by Missy Caulk-Ann Arbor- Realtor(R)- Ann Arbor Real Estate on 11/25/2007 03:16 PM

Comments (53)

saline, mi

Originally posted at: Ann Arbor Undressed : It's A Wonderful Life in Saline, MI

This post has been included in Michigan Information Washtenaw County, MI Information Saline, MI Information

53 Comments on It's A Wonderful Life in Saline, MI

NOV

2007

I'm sure we'll have some stuff going on here as well. They throw candy off the christmas float to the kids...wow...you have some great memories there.

I do..........so much fun when the kids were younger, but we still go every year and I really enjoy it........except when it is snowing and freezing cold. LOL

I love the Christmas parade...my town has one every year but I think we'll be stopping the candy throwing.

Our town has a parade too and yrs ago one of our competitors would enter a float. They did a great job chipping in to help each other pt it together and I think one yr. took first place many yrs ago.

They looked like they had fun. Too cold to stand out there for me.

Missy - i love the Santa's outfit. Your clients should realize that someone so creative on their blog and providing great local information will do a great job marketing their home.

Missy, Thanks, I missed the Parade in Milford this morning. Hope the weather warms slightly!

Missy, As you know we have a Christmas parade in our town as well. They are so much fun that my kids like to attend all the parades in the surrounding cities, and sometimes we do, but I think Ann Arbor is just a bit too far for us.

Missy - What a great tradition that is for Saline. We have a few stories of our own with babies hidden and nursing inside jackets. I remember one year when my son was a toddler we went to Oktoberfest (German festival) in nearby New Braunfels. While we were there, the temperature plummeted about 30 degrees and we had to buy sweatshirts in order to continue. My son was probably about two, and I can still see his smiling little face peeking out of my wife's sweatshirt, saying "Hi Momma!".

I love that movie...so when is George Bailey coming to say hello to Mr. Potter:)

Monika and Jay, you all must each be on your lap tops, in front of the fire and didn't know the other was writing.

Faina, thanks so much for the complement.

Mana, I know you do I just commented on it. LOL

Jason, ahhhh, I miss those days so much. Precious times.

Neal, ROFLMAO !!

Gary, well come on down to Saline, we'll get you in the spirit.

Missy,

I love parades...Saline, huh...sounds a little 'salty' to me! :) Thanks, Fran

Saline is a lovely town. Thank you for sharing your wonderful memories of the parade!

Missy,

It sounds like such a beautiful place, of course you have Snow! I love Snow...

Fran, it is salty it was named after the salt mines. LOL

Kelly, you're welcome, did Kim come for the holiday?

Thomas, I like snow too, once on Christmas Eve and then it can go away. I hate dirty snow.

Missy, We've had our big local parade and. like you, we've seen it grow year after year. Frankly, I enjoy local parades rather than all the major parades on TV - it's a question of community involvement, Karen

Hi Missy,
I just love a parade, especially a Christmas parade. Every little town in our area has one so I think we can catch three different ones this coming weekend. Santa still throws candy to the kids. One of the town has theirs at night, that's my favorite.

Missy, yes we do have laptops and I didn't know she commented but we do not have the fireplace going.

Hi there,

Don'tcha just love home town Americana?

Missy... I like these kind of home town parades. Sounds like you have a lot of memories. Your first memory? rut row.... ;o) Thanks for sharing this. PS.... where did you get and or do that Santa pic?

Missy...That is the story of our lives...

Looks like lots of fun, Missy ! I love the tradition of hometown santa parades...even the smallest of villages seem to have them.

It's A Wonderful Life is my favourite film of all time....what a nice theme for a parade.

Missy,

There's nothing better than working in an area that you truly love and can convey that sincerely to your clients, which you do quite well.

Missy- Beautiful and brilliant colored graphics on this post. I love the colors of Christmas! I love your memories too! THank you for sharing. Katerina

Missy, we have already finished our parade this year. Heah!!!!!!!!!!! Just looked and you have posted your 200th post. Congratulations! So glad you are here at AR.

NOV

2007

Missy,

it seems that it will be fun, are you going to be in first place ?

Ray Saenz

I've heard that the parade in Saline was a nice one, without the crowds of the Detroit parade. You and Alyssa must have kept each other warm that year :-) Have fun this year Missy, and when you're there let the memories of the past parades flow into your heart.

Hi from beautiful Maggie Valley, NC! Enjoyed your parade post, and hope to follow you with one of my own as we are decorating today for our parade. Enjoyed your AR site as well. Thank you!

I love parades and cannot wait for ours on December 1st ! I have more reasons this year because it will be my oldest son who is also in the parade for ROTC this year !

Karen, I love this parade, I see so many kids and families I know.

Cynthia, we use to have our at night, but changed to 5:30 because of all the traffic having to be re-routed down MI Ave. Three ? Wow that is alot of parades.

Jay, thanks for commenting again. It is cold here so I'm about ready to crank up the fireplace.

Lynda, yes I do and love living in a small town.

Jeff, lol we'll it is a memory. I stock photos

Monika, two peas in a pod.

Jo-Anne, yep love them so much fun.

Fran, thanks I appreciate it and I do love my hometown in Michigan.

Katerina, thanks for commenting.

Kay, really I'll go look, hadn't noticed.

Ray, I'm just a spectator this year.

Kris, thanks I will and it is a good parade, want to come over ?

Susie, thanks have fun decorating today.

Melissa, that is cool, post some pictures of him and the parade.

Community activities like this ARE great selling points! I always mention to buyers about the twice-yearly crafts fair, the boyscout chicken barbeque, and Santa's arrival on a firetruck for the community Christmas tree lighting. (Tomorrow night, in fact, and I hope to go), and the Opening Day Parade for youth baseball. Who doesn't want to live in a community with this kind of spirit?

Baseball ?? wow Margaret that is a Spring/Summer sport here. We have so many parades in Saline and I do point it out to all my clients. Yes, this is why it is fun to live in small towns.

We just had our Holiday/Christmas parade. My RE/MAX office had a float and we had more fun. This is why I moved to NC!

Missy, I can't think of any local parades, only the big one in the City. Which is a shame when so many people would love this! Santa comes by on the fire trucks for the kids but we should have a parade out here, somewhere....It IS a wonderful selling point. Great shots and wonderful localism article.

Diane, good for you, I know that was fun. Carole, thank you !! They are a lot of work as it is a Chamber of Commerce in Saline event but we get lots of sponsors if you looked at my link.

Missy, it just goes to show, we never really do grow up huh? I love parades too! Loved your memories, they were neat!

I hope I never get to old to enjoy things like this.......now I just get COLD.

I love the theme - and it is my favorite movie of all time - how cool to have such community spirit at the holidays -

Thesa, thanks for stopping by, I love that movie too. One of the pleasures of a small town.

Missy, she did (her and John) we had a great time. Michael stayed behind...he can't miss the Lions game!

Kelly, well that was quite a boring game, glad you had fun with Kim.

Our parade is Dec 7th and it includes a promenade of two local homes that are dressed for the Holiday. We are seeing if we can piggyback off this by having a few of our listings open the same evening with mulled cider or wine and cookies and a cheese tray. The homes will be all decked out and hopefully some potential buyers will stop by. If not, I'll fill up on cider and cookies and enjoy being in a festive home while I read a good book. Last year I had my son and his girlfriend hand out candy canes with a holiday message attached and my website address. I just can't resist a marketing opportunity, though I kept it low key in honor of the season!

Missy... what about the Santa pic....in regards to the writing on his pants.... thanks

NOV

2007

Beth, you live in a town so similiar to Saline. My kids guidance counselor is from Tecumseh. I like your idea, of the candy canes. We are not allowed to throw candy anymore, but some groups do just low and on the ground.

Jeff, it is from imagemaker.com. Lots of cool things there to create and play with.

Missy,

Sounds like a lot of fun!! I love parades and the excitement they bring to our areas.

Holiday events that are traditions are always the best Missy.

NOV

2007

What a great post! Almost makes me wish I was there, almost... I have a serious aversion to ...SNOW!

Missy: That looks like so much fun. Wish we could be there to celebrate with you! Blessings!

NOV

2007

Andrew, it is so cold here today 15 degrees... let's hope it warms up by Sat.

Steve, thanks for commenting.

Vanessa, almost ?? LOL I love snow,just don't like cold and gray days.

Elizabeth, :)

Missy - Sounds like a real good time for everyone,. You have really captured the spirit of the event with some really nice pictures. Have fun!

Missy--this is GREAT! I have to admit that it looks kind-a-FL-like to see the girls in short sleeves and bare legs in DECEMBER in Saline! Santa's warm-cozy sleigh looks more like it.

Thanks for sharing your memories...